Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 16, 2015

A Broward County judge is suing for damages and injunctive relief, saying a Florida prison inmate filed a fake $2.8 million lien against her as retribution for denying him bail, according to court records. The Attorney General’s Office filed the case earlier this month in Leon County Circuit Civil Court on behalf of Circuit Judge […]

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 […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 30, 2015

A Tallahassee-area judge who presided over several high-profile state-related lawsuits has been ordered off the bench immediately and permanently. Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford also once ordered a woman to pay $15,000 in restitution at a rate of $1 per month, stretching the full repayment into the year 3249. The Florida Supreme Court declared Fulford “involuntarily retired from judicial service,” […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 8, 2015

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced twelve appointments to a variety of state regulatory boards, including two circuit court judges and two to the Judicial Qualifications Commission. Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court Scott announced the appointment of Judge Kim Hernandez Vance to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, which serves Hillsborough County. Vance, 54, of Tampa, has served […]

Associated PressMay 27, 2015

A Seminole-Brevard circuit judge who is set to go on trial before a judicial ethics panel in August has resigned. The Orlando Sentinel reports Linda Schoonover stepped down from her position Tuesday. Officials say Schoonover was facing the prospect of being thrown out of office amid a wide-ranging series of misconduct allegations. One Winter Springs […]

Martin DyckmanAugust 17, 2014

There are some things for a judge not to do. Picking a fist fight — in court — with an assistant public defender is one. John C. Murphy, a Brevard County judge, has just been charged with that. He could be kicked off the bench. Some other no-no’s, as previously decided by Florida’s Judicial Qualifications […]

Tag: Judicial Qualifications Commission
Oglesby Student Union. Image via FSU.

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

Broward judge says she’s wrongly accused of owing millions

State investigators had called Brevard judge accuser “not credible”

Supreme Court orders judge ‘involuntarily retired’

Rick Scott announces one dozen judicial, qualification commission and state board appointments

Judge who faced long list of ethics complaints resigns

Martin Dyckman: Judges should not bad-mouth a jury