Jim Rosica
The Florida Supreme Court has suspended a Miami-Dade County judge after allegations she was “impaired” at work.
The court on Tuesday unanimously ordered Judge Jacqueline Schwartz suspended from office immediately until a formal finding.
“The parties shall file simultaneous responses as to why Judge Schwartz should not be suspended without pay pending disposition of this proceeding,” the court wrote. Those responses are due May 9.
The state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission had recommended Schwartz be suspended because of evidence that she was impaired at a restaurant and at work.
An investigation found that Schwartz appeared to be impaired March 18 at a Coconut Grove restaurant. Witnesses there said she berated waiters and called police “pigs.”
The inquiry also found Schwartz was impaired on the bench on March 28 to the point where her bailiff had to drive her home.
Schwartz attributed her behavior to a new prescription medication, not to alcohol.
She was previously suspended and fined $10,000 for telling a Coconut Grove convenience store clerk “go (expletive) yourself” in an argument over a campaign sign for one of her opponents.
County judges preside over “traffic offenses, less serious criminal matters (misdemeanors), and relatively small monetary disputes,” according to the state courts website.
The website for the 11th Judicial Circuit, where Schwartz is based, shows she was assigned to the criminal division.
Schwartz received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from the University of Miami, according to her bio. After working in private practice, she became a county judge in 2003.
This post contains material from The Associated Press, reprinted with permission.
