Judge Gives Florida Bar a Pugilism Lesson

[BvBPL]

When a public defender refused to waive his client's right to a speedy trial, a Florida judge became perturbed. He asked the attorney to step aside, and when the attorney refused to the judge invited the attorney to step outside the court room for an ex parte party.

The courtroom was then treated to what appears to be the sound of a scuffle before the judge returned, alone, to applause from the courtroom. The judge admitted he was a little out of breath as he set a trial date for the defendant.

The judge has since been suspended and ordered to get angry management treatment. No charges have been filed against either party.

Link.
Video.

 

[Daird]

There has GOT to be something in the Florida water. It's the only explanation for all the crazy stuff down there.

 

[gay_Aleks]

I guess these coal mines did indeed get into the water, eh?

 

[Camikaze]

Angry management treatment sounds like it'd be fairly counter-productive.

 

[JollyRoger]

Should have been assault charges filed. I'm sure his defense attorney would be given the option to not waive rights.

 

[Antilogic]

What exactly set this judge off? The idea that a public defender would dare to defend his client?

 

[JollyRoger]

My guess is that the court's trial docket was crowded enough not to accommodate a trial for the defendant in question if the speedy trial rights were not waived. The judge likely looked at it as abuse of the system, but really, we need more lawyers to crowd the trial dockets of the criminal justice system so that the petty offenses get dismissed because there is simply not time for them to go to trial.

 

[Kyriakos]

This is just stupid. Pls fire that 'judge'. Borderline 'very slow' people should not be in positions of any power, much less if they also are violent.

 

[BvBPL]

My guess is that the court's trial docket was crowded enough not to accommodate a trial for the defendant in question if the speedy trial rights were not waived. The judge likely looked at it as abuse of the system, but really, we need more lawyers to crowd the trial dockets of the criminal justice system so that the petty offenses get dismissed because there is simply not time for them to go to trial.

On return from the judicious beat down, the judge set a trial date for the defendant (this time the judge honored the defendant's speedy trial rights). The next defendant before the court was to be represented by the now-absent PD, so the judge just set a speedy trial date for him as well.

The judge schedule both defendants for the same time and on the same date.

 

[CavLancer]

Two for the price of one!

 

[LoneRebel]

Seems pretty clear from the facts we're given that the judge is in the wrong here, unless there's something I'm missing.

 

[BvBPL]

[TIMER="9999"]So the news story, linked above under "video," also had a link to selected comments received by the news station on this story.

A couple of these comments suggested that the public defender was either in the wrong for disobeying the judge or consented to fighting the judge and should therefore be sanctioned. Both notions are completely wrong.

One commentor stated that the attorney should have obeyed the judge when the judge asked the attorney three times to sit down. Furthermore, the commentator stated that the attorney should have used apporiate honorifics when addressing the judge ("your honor" etc).

While it is true that counsel before the court should generally grant great deference to a judge, such deference should not impede the long-established rights of clients such as the rights to reprensentation and a speedy trial. If a judge interferes with those rights then the attorney should stand his ground. He'll risk a contempt charge. Such a charge is the appropiate manner for the court to handle such an incident, not throwing down with the attorney.

Another party claimed that by joining the judge outside after the judge called him out, the attorney consented to the fight.[/TIMER]

Draft saved, to be editted and completed later.

 

[BvBPL]

The judge is back on the bench after a mere month away.

 

[Kyriakos]

The judge is back on the bench after a mere month away.

^

In an open letter (PDF) to county residents released Sunday, Judge Murphy wrote, “I love my job and have refocused myself on doing all I can to make myself a better person and judge.”

Murphy took a paid leave of absence and underwent anger-management counseling. He returns with a new assignment, in which he will preside over civil matters rather than criminal, reports Florida Today.

WTH is going on there, man? (yeah i know it's Florida, but still...). Who cares if this thug loves his job. He clearly is a disgrace to any self-respecting entity that is supposed to uphold the law and act against such violent rages.

 

[JollyRoger]

Angry judges are not good for civil cases either.

 

[Kozmos]

WTH is going on there, man? (yeah i know it's Florida, but still...). Who cares if this thug loves his job. He clearly is a disgrace to any self-respecting entity that is supposed to uphold the law and act against such violent rages.

Indeed we must disassemble this robot who has eviscerated the PD and never build any of his kind again.

 

[Kyriakos]

Indeed we must disassemble this robot who has eviscerated the PD and never build any of his kind again.

Or go and have your own PD, with judge Murphy and blackjack