Latest news with #JQC
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Broward judge denies violating judicial conduct code over deepfake AI call
Broward County Judge Lauren Peffer in a new court filing Friday formally denied the ethics charges filed against her, stemming from her promotion of a scandalous book and a deepfake AI recording during her campaign last year. In the routine filing with Florida's Supreme Court, Peffer denied the Judicial Qualifications Commission's charges filed last month that she violated judicial ethics rules that govern 'inappropriate political activity.' Peffer, a first-time judicial candidate, won her seat in August and began her term in January. During her campaign, which centered on trustworthiness and ethics in the judiciary, Peffer referenced in an endorsement interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial board a book written and published by a former courthouse employee in the Orlando area called, 'The Ninth Circus Court of Florida, My 30-Year Job from Hell!' The book, written by someone who had been terminated, 'portrays the judiciary in the Ninth Judicial Circuit as corrupt and incompetent and attacks the character' of numerous judges, including current Chief Judge Lisa Munyon, according to the JQC's charging document. Peffer wrote in response to a Sun Sentinel editorial board questionnaire that the book's 'recent revelations' had 'highlighted an image crisis within Florida's judiciary,' according to the JQC's notice of formal charges. At the time Peffer cited the book in the Sun Sentinel interview, it lacked any published reviews and appeared to have generated no public discourse or impact, the Sun Sentinel previously reported. Asked by the Sun Sentinel about evidence of the book creating public mistrust, Peffer sent the newspaper a link to an 18-minute recording of what purported to be a phone call about the book between Munyon, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz and Justice Renatha Francis, according to the notice of charges. But the recording was fake, likely made with generative AI, and could be deemed so by 'any reasonable person,' the JQC said in its notice of charges. Broward judicial candidate drops Orlando author's self-published tell-all from her campaign stump speech Peffer was forwarded the link to the recording 'by another lawyer,' her response filed Friday said. Peffer in her response to the charges on Friday acknowledged that she had not 'carefully listened to the call but had a recollection that the judiciary was being criticized in the recording' and did not try to determine its veracity before providing it to the newspaper. 'Judge Peffer acknowledges that she should have more carefully listened to the recording before referencing it in her answers to the editorial board. In responding to these proceedings, Judge Peffer listened to the recordings without distraction, and it was immediately apparent that the purported phone call was a 'deep fake,'' her response said. However, she denied that she shared the recording 'despite clear evidence of its inauthenticity,' as the JQC alleged in its charges. In her response, Peffer also admitted that she never read the disgruntled employee's book before referencing it to the Sun Sentinel and did not research the claims the employee made. 'Judge Peffer did not intend to promote the validity of the book but instead, she intended to point to the book as an example of criticism of the judiciary,' her response said. She previously acknowledged issues with the book in a July interview with the Sun Sentinel and said she would stop citing it. Peffer denied that she 'ignored' the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee's training on campaign ethics as the notice of charges alleged and denied that she 'helped facilitate the former employee's farce,' according to her response.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
GA judge resigns while being investigated for using county funds for vacation
An Upson County judge who was under investigation over misconduct allegations has resigned from her position. According to the Judicial Qualification Commission, Probate Judge Danielle McRae was under investigation over allegations that she had misused county funds. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] She was accused of using a county-issued purchasing card to pay for a personal trip and lodging. The JQC says they were also investigating several instances between 2018 and 2025 of McRae voiding payments made to the probate court for traffic citations, as well as her not being truthful with the JQC's investigators. TRENDING STORIES: One of Canada's 'most wanted' fugitives arrested in Brookhaven Marjorie Taylor Greene weighs in on college student facing deportation after wrongful traffic stop 3 dead, 2 injured in tractor-trailer crash that left I-75 shut down for hours Last week, she submitted a letter a resignation to Governor Brian Kemp. On Monday, he formally accepted her resignation effective immediately. McRae signed a consent agreement with the JQC, saying she will not seek elected or appointed judicial office in the future. In exchange, charges will not be filed against her. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judicial oversight panel: Ex-lawmaker's comments show ‘unfitness to serve'
Former Sen. Gary Farmer, now a Broward circuit judge, is at risk of discipline for various "dad jokes" and inappropriate remarks from the bench. (Screenshot via Florida Channel) Former state Senate Democratic leader-turned-Broward Circuit Court Judge Gary Farmer is unfit to serve in that capacity, according an advisory panel to the Florida Supreme Court. Florida's Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended Thursday that the high court suspend Farmer from his post pending the outcome of removal proceedings. The Supreme Court has ordered Farmer to respond to the recommendation by April 21. Late last year, the commission began investigating inappropriate comments Farmer made earlier in the year. Further investigation found several more remarks they eventually included in their recommendation to suspend the judge. 'Through his extensive misconduct, occurring over a lengthy period of time, Judge Farmer has damaged the public's perception of the judiciary and the judicial branch in such a way that he has demonstrated a present unfitness to serve,' the 13-page recommendation of suspension states. Farmer has characterized at least some of his comments as 'dad jokes' to reduce stress in the courtroom, while the JQC said his comments were demeaning and potentially humiliating. The panel, comprising judges, attorneys, and non-lawyers appointed by the governor, wrote that Farmer mocked a litigant in August who was expecting three children with different women. 'Ok, you've been busy,' Farmer said, according to court documents. 'You were just shooting all over the place! That's good, do you know their names? First and last? Romantic are you? Don't tell Susie about Jane don't tell Jane about Mary God bless you man. One's enough.' Later, Farmer told the defendant he was going to put him on pretrial release, 'I'm going to order that you wear a condom at all times. For your own good. Ok?! Probation is going to check. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding.' In another instance, Farmer played music from his phone for more than 80 seconds, the panel wrote, 'which you referred to as the 'song of the day.' When nobody knew the name of the song you played, you said, 'That means nobody gets the Golden Oreo today. I've got a bunch of regular Oreos you can have but the Golden Oreo has to be earned. Okay, back to business.'' Farmer told the investigative panel, 'I don't think we can say, as judges, that we never — there's never a light moment or a joke in Court, so I don't want to overstate it, but I am not doing bad jokes anymore.' 'Respectfully, the Investigative Panel is amply justified in not trusting Judge Farmer's judgement in this regard,' the JQC wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The panel took issue with Farmer 'prejudging the outcomes of future cases, not yet before him,' relating to laws permitting deadly force in self-defense. During his six years in the Senate, Farmer filed several pieces of gun-safety legislation. Farmer wrote in an order that in Stand Your Ground cases with credibility issues, 'the prosecutor will never be able to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant wasn't reasonably in fear of imminent harm (i.e. proof of a negative). This doesn't make sense to the Court, but it is the law of Florida and the Court is duty bound to apply it.' The panel found that Farmer quoted a Marlon Wayans sketch, acknowledging as he did so that he should not have. 'Laughing, and in a mocking voice you say, 'Marlon Wayans — In Living Color. Two snaps and a sweater! He likes it when the Oilers play the Packers! He used to be a tight end! Now he's a wide receiver. Oh, that's bad. Court reporter in the sky, please! Strike that from the record!'' The report continues: 'Finally, the Investigative Panel dismisses, out-of-hand, any suggestion that Judge Farmer's conduct was not violative of the Code because some people laughed at his comments or did not complain about being offended. The simple fact of the matter is that Judge Farmer's position as a judge provided him with a captive audience who would naturally and understandably be willing to laugh and reticent to complain.' 'While presiding over the August 15, 2024, hearing you said, 'Spring is here, I got so excited I wet my plants' and 'What did the shirt say to the pair of pants? Wassup britches!' Apparently, these are some of what you referred to as your 'exceptionally, exceptionally bad jokes.'' ''I called the incontinence hotline. They told me to hold.' 'Mr. [attorney present in court] is aghast.'' 'My [court] notes are like Shakira's hips. They don't lie.' 'During a pause in proceedings, you ask an attorney 'Are you a fan of the Flintstone's Mr. [attorney present]? It's one of the most popular shows in the world. They don't like it in Dubai though. I don't know, but the people of Abu Dhabi do.' After a moment of silence, the attorney replied 'Don't give up your day job.'' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
She Did What? This GA Judge Is Accused of All Kinds of Strange Shenanigans
The agency in charge of investigating judicial misconduct has one Georgia Superior Court Judge on its radar. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) has filed several charges against Judge Shermela Williams, accusing her of a growing list of ethics violations, including delaying rulings and using her position to get involved in the legal proceedings of a relative. Williams was elected in 2020 and has served as a judge in Fulton County's Superior Court since January 2021. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Director of the Judicial Qualifications Commission is trying to find out if any of Williams' actions since she's been on the bench have violated the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct. The first hearing is scheduled to start on March 5. Some of the conduct in question includes allegations of Williams giving preferential treatment to a sorority sister in a child custody case and reaching out to an attorney for her uncle, who was facing a contempt case in front of a different judge, hoping to 'work something out.' But one of the strangest allegations was that Williams held a young woman in a courthouse holding cell 'without any legal findings or justification' during her parents' divorce case after she admitted to damaging things in his apartment due to their strained relationship. 'Today you came here and admitted to … 36 years' worth of prison on this stuff. Do you understand that?' the JQC alleges Williams told the woman. 'And all for a divorce that had nothing to do with you, right?' Although Williams isn't speaking out publicly about the charges, her attorney, Gabe Banks, said removing his client from the bench would be 'inconsistent with the manner in which the JQC has resolved other cases' and a betrayal of the Fulton County voters who elected her. 'All Judge Williams wants and deserves is to be treated fairly. The same rules should apply to every judge. Most importantly, discipline should be meted out evenhandedly and should not be politically motivated,' he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Fulton judge accused of detaining woman during parents' divorce hearing, calling in favor for uncle
A Fulton County Superior Court judge is facing charges accusing her of misconduct. Earlier this week, the Judicial Qualifications Commission brought 15 charges against Judge Shermela Williams. Several of the charges accuse the judge of taking too long to render a decision on child support and child custody cases, some taking as long as 30 months. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] One of the complaints involves a 22-year-old woman being detained after testifying in her parents' divorce case. During her testimony, the woman reported having a strained relationship with her father and going to his apartment and damaging it. While attorneys delivered closing arguments, Judge Williams reportedly stopped them to discuss the daughter's testimony. She is quoted in the complaint as telling the woman she had admitted to 36 years in prison worth of crimes in her testimony before having a deputy 'show her what that cell looks like.' The woman was then left in a holding cell for more than 30 minutes. When she was brought back into the courtroom, Judge Williams is quoted as telling the woman about 'girls who came in here with daddy issues.' The JQC complaint says that Williams had no legal justification to detain the woman in a cell. TRENDING STORIES: Carson Beck's Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini stolen from his Miami home Boss shoots, kills employee at Gwinnett McDonald's parking lot 'RHOA' star's estranged husband's citizenship request denied In a separate incident, the complaint details Judge Williams asking a metro Atlanta law firm to call her on a personal cell phone after hours. When speaking with an associate with the law firm, the judge is accused of asking for an extension in a case so the respondent, her uncle, would have more time to file his answer. She is quoted as telling the associate that because others at the firm were reasonable, they should 'work something out.' The complaint claims Williams used the 'prestige of her office to advance the private interest of another.' Channel 2 Action News has reached out to Judge Williams' office for a comment. S25Z0722 JQC Formal Charges by Jennifer Smith on Scribd [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
