A.G. Gancarski
Despite the specter of an investigation by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission for alleged racist and sexist statements from the bench, along with alleged overworking of staff, Judge Mark Hulsey won his battle for re-election on Aug. 30.
Even so, he has another battle ahead of him.
Hulsey’s final evidentiary hearing commences on the morning of Feb. 6, 2017, in front of a six-person Judicial Qualifications Commission panel including Judge Krista Marx (Chair); Mayanne Downs, Esquire; Judge Michelle Morley; John G. White III, Esquire; Al Alsobrook (lay member); and another lay member to be determined.
Ahead of that, a telephonic status conference is slated for Nov. 30, with a telephone pre-hearing set for Jan. 20.
Hulsey is limited to three live witnesses, though affidavits and letters regarding his character can be provided before Jan. 27.
As our own Jim Rosica wrote earlier this year, Hulsey faces 14 violations of Florida’s Code of Judicial Conduct.
“You have been discourteous and condescending to your staff, you have expressed unnecessary criticism of staff attorneys, and in doing so, used language inappropriate for your judicial office … You have also exploited your judicial assistant to the extent that she felt compelled to perform personal tasks, such as paying your personal bills, writing letters, and making personal phone calls on your behalf,” the filing from the JQC asserts.
