Chief District Court Judge Brad Allen Sr. has petitioned to have two local magistrates suspended and removed, claiming they conspired to have him charged with a DWI.

In the two petitions filed in Alamance County Superior Court and dated Oct. 31, Allen alleges that magistrates David Crabbe and Amelia Knauff conspired to follow Allen to a restaurant or bar, wait for him to leave, and tap his bumper causing an accident in hopes he would be charged with driving while impaired to “have him out of the way.”

Magistrates in North Carolina are considered independent judicial officers — judges, though not necessarily lawyers — nominated by the county clerk of superior court, appointed by the senior superior court judge and supervised by the chief district court judge. They are generally the first judge people see when arrested. They set initial bonds, accept bond payments, issue arrest and search warrants, approve involuntary commitments and perform weddings among other things.

Both Crabbe and Knauff were reappointed to four-year terms in January. On Sept. 24, Allen met with both magistrates to talk about the internal investigation he conducted into them. Neither of them commented on the allegation that they were plotting against Allen, according to the petition.