Judge who jailed tearful witness for failing to appear at domestic abuse trial agrees to reprimand
A Florida judge who jailed a sobbing woman for three days last year because she had failed to appear as a witness at a domestic abuse trial has agreed to be reprimanded.
An agreed discipline stipulation (PDF) between Judge Jerri Collins of Seminole County and the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission says the “intemperate and argumentative tone” used by Collins violated judicial ethics rules.
Collins believed she was proceeding lawfully with a direct criminal contempt hearing against the woman, but expressed remorse “that her intemperate conduct brought unnecessary criticism upon not only her own court, but the entire judiciary, and could impair the public’s perception of the fairness and impartiality of Florida’s judicial system,” the stipulation says.
The incident was captured on courtroom video.
The state supreme court must OK the discipline recommendation before it is final, notes the Orlando Sentinel.
Collins did not respond to a request for comment by the newspaper.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Tearful woman gets judicial scolding, 3 days in jail for failing to show at domestic violence trial”
