Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 4, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a 90-day unpaid suspension and public reprimand for an Orlando-area judge who “circulated a deceptive, misleading advertisement.” The court’s hearing panel also suggested paranoia on the part of Circuit Judge Kimberly Shepard, who believed “sinister forces (were) at work” trying to defeat her, they said. Shepard previously was a Democratic state […]

Jim RosicaMarch 2, 2017

A North Florida judge used as an example by a House panel looking into impeachment of public officials has been suspended for six months by the Florida Supreme Court. The court’s 46-page decision, released Thursday, also orders 3rd Circuit Judge Andrew Decker to get a public reprimand and pay investigative costs. A judicial misconduct hearing panel had recommended […]

Staff ReportsDecember 29, 2016

Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey III of Jacksonville has apologized after a new charge of judicial misconduct was leveled against him. On Thursday, Hulsey filed his answer to a second amended complaint of judicial misconduct by the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), filed earlier this month. It said he “directed (his) Judicial Assistant to overnight personal packages related to (his) campaign, using the 4th Judicial […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2016

Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey III of Jacksonville now faces a second amended complaint of judicial misconduct, according to a Friday filing. The Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), which investigates misconduct accusations against judges, leveled a new charge, this one related to Hulsey’s re-election campaign. He won re-election in August against Jacksonville lawyer Gerald Wilkerson after a recount. “(Y)ou directed your Judicial Assistant to overnight personal packages […]

Jim RosicaAugust 9, 2016

A Jacksonville judge has formally denied allegations he made racially biased and other derogatory comments off the bench, including calling a female attorney the “c-word.” Late Monday, Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey III filed a written response to judicial misconduct charges against him. He also asked for a separate investigation into a leak of the case before it became […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 13, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court has denied a former judge’s request to reconsider his removal from the bench after he was caught on courtroom video berating and threatening to fight an assistant public defender. The court issued its denial of John C. Murphy‘s motion for rehearing on Wednesday. The request was technical in nature: Murphy had wanted his removal to be for […]

Associated PressDecember 17, 2015

A judge who was captured on video berating and threatening to fight an assistant public defender was ordered removed from the bench Thursday by the Florida Supreme Court. Brevard County Judge John C. Murphy got into an argument last year with now-former assistant public defender Andrew Weinstock over whether a defendant could have a speedy trial. […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

The judge accused of causing the Florida judicial system “to become a national embarrassment” should not be removed from office, his lawyers argued in a court filing released Tuesday. Last June, Brevard County Judge John C. Murphy was caught on courtroom video blowing up at then-Assistant Public Defender Andrew Weinstock, telling the lawyer he wanted to […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2015

The attorney who accused a Florida judge of “kicking his ass” had earlier been described in a judicial investigative panel’s report as “rude, disrespectful, incompetent and a highly unlikeable lawyer.” On Tuesday, the Florida Supreme Court suspended Brevard County Judge John C. Murphy without pay and ordered him to show the court why he shouldn’t be permanently removed […]

Tag: judicial misconduct

Orlando-area judge ordered suspended for campaign ad

Supreme Court suspends judge considered by House impeachment panel

Mark Hulsey apologizes after latest ethics accusation

Mark Hulsey faces another judicial misconduct complaint

Jax judge denies calling woman lawyer ‘c-word’

Supreme Court denies rehearing request by former judge

Supreme Court orders ‘kick ass’ judge removed from bench

Lawyers argue for keeping accused “kick ass” judge on bench

State investigators had called Brevard judge accuser “not credible”