A prosecutor said he will launch an "immediate investigation" into misconduct charges against a powerful south Georgia judge who stepped down this month rather than face allegations that she abused her authority.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said Tuesday he accepted a request by Attorney General Sam Olens to probe the case involving Amanda Williams, a Brunswick Superior Court judge who resigned this month.

The accusations were filed last year by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, which doesn't have the power to file criminal charges. But the complaint said Williams made several "material false statements" to investigators in violation of a Georgia law that makes it a crime to lie to government authorities.

Williams' attorney John Ossick declined to comment.

Tags: Judicial Qualifications Commission, Amanda Williams, Attorney General Sam Olens, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard