TALLAHASSEE- Judge David C. Miller of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit was reprimanded for improper conduct while trying to quiet a crowded and noisy hallway outside his courtroom, during which he inappropriately threatened one court employee with contempt for shaking her head at him. Two other judges standing with the court employee stated that the…
TALLAHASSEE- Five judges from the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County have been reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court for improperly interfering in a contract procurement process being run by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). Eleventh Circuit Judges Rosa Figarola, Marcia Caballero, Teresa Pooler, and Mavel Ruiz signed a letter originally drafted…
TALLAHASSEE- Judge Ernest Kollra of the 17th Judicial Circuit was publicly reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court after the Court accepted the Findings and Recommendation of the Investigative Panel of the Commission, filed as part of a Stipulation between the Commission and Judge Kollra. Judge Kollra admitted to violating Canon 7 by using the endorsement…
TALLAHASSEE- Accepting the Findings and Recommendation of the Investigative Panel of the Commission filed as part of a Stipulation with 17th Circuit Judge Dennis Bailey, the Florida Supreme Court ordered that the judge be publicly reprimanded. The allegations of misconduct relate to Judge Bailey’s intemperate treatment of attorneys appearing before him during a criminal trial.…
UPDATE: Pursuant to a revised stipulation between the JQC and Judge Ortiz, the Florida Supreme Court imposed a 90-day suspension without pay, a $5,000 fine, and a public reprimand. TALLAHASSEE- The Investigative Panel of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) has filed formal charges against Miami-Dade County Judge Maria Ortiz for failing to properly disclose…
UPDATE: Accepting the recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Florida Supreme Court ordered the immediate removal of Judge Scott DuPont. TALLAHASSEE- The Florida Supreme Court has taken under advisement the Judicial Qualifications Commission’s (JQC) recommendation that 7th Circuit Judge Scott C. DuPont be removed from office. On April 30, 2018, Judge DuPont filed his…
TALLAHASSEE- On November 30, 2017 the Investigative Panel filed formal charges against Broward County Judge Claudia Robinson alleging that she inappropriately directed mediation cases to an attorney that assisted her in her campaign. The Panel reached an agreement with Judge Robinson that she should receive a public reprimand, be suspended from office for 30 days…
UPDATE: Accepting the recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Florida Supreme Court removed Judge Dana Santino from office. TALLAHASSEE- The Florida Supreme Court is considering whether to remove Palm Beach County Judge Dana Santino, as recommended by the Hearing Panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC). Judge Santino was charged with committing several serious…
TALLAHASSEE- The Florida Supreme Court has accepted the Findings and Recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission and ordered that St. Lucie County Judge Philip Yacucci be suspended without pay for 30 days, attend judicial ethics training, and receive a public reprimand. Judge Yacucci must also pay the cost of the proceedings in this inquiry. Two…
TALLAHASSEE- The Florida Supreme Court unanimously approved the Findings and Recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission Hearing Panel which conducted a full evidentiary hearing and recommended that Judge Shepard be found guilty of violating the Code of Judicial Conduct, and suspended without pay for 90 days, and be publicly reprimanded. Judge Shepard will also have…