Top state court nixes judge's unpaid 90-day suspension, wants more info about other possible issues
One of three Florida judges at the same courthouse who were accused of driving under the influence within a seven-month period, Broward Circuit Judge Lynn Rosenthal had agreed to resolve the resulting legal ethics case by taking a three-month unpaid suspension.
But that may not be a sufficient sanction for Rosenthal, according to the Florida Supreme Court, which on Monday put the proposed penalty on hold, the Sun Sentinel reports.
The court wants more information about “the facts regarding any misconduct that occurred during the criminal investigation and the Judicial Qualifications Commission investigation, including any destruction of evidence and any false and misleading statements made by Judge Rosenthal.”
Rosenthal’s lawyer said she accidentally had taken too much of a prescription sleep aid before striking a sheriff’s patrol vehicle in the courthouse parking lot last year. She pleaded no contest to a lesser charge, reckless driving, and was sentenced to community service.
Legal ethics proceedings are scheduled to begin later this week for another of the three jurists, Broward Circuit Judge Cynthia Imperato. Convicted by a jury after a DUI trial last year, she had agreed to a 20-day unpaid suspension. However, the supreme court nixed that legal ethics plea deal in May.
The third judge, Gisele Pollack, resigned earlier this year and is now working as a public defender.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Judge who hit sheriff’s patrol vehicle in courthouse parking lot agrees to 90-day unpaid suspension”
Daily Business Review (sub. req.): “Court Rejects Ethics Deal for Broward Judge Rosenthal”