Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 15-530 Re: Jerri Collins

Supreme Court of Florida
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No. SC16-548
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INQUIRY CONCERNING A JUDGE, NO. 15-530
RE: JERRI COLLINS.
[July 7, 2016]
PER CURIAM.
In this case, we review the revised consent judgment entered into by the
Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) and Seminole County Judge
Jerri Collins. The revised consent judgment imposed the following sanctions on
Judge Collins: a public reprimand before this Court, completion of an anger
management course, and attendance at the domestic violence course offered during
Phase II of the Florida Judicial College. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 12,
Fla. Const. For the following reasons, we approve the revised consent judgment.
BACKGROUND
On March 30, 2016, the JQC filed in this Court a Notice of Formal Charges
against Judge Jerri Collins for conduct in violation of Canons 1, 2A, and 3B(4) of
the Code of Judicial Conduct. Judge Collins violated these canons in the course of
presiding over the case of State v. Myles Brennan (Seminole County Case No.
2015MM4751A) when she berated and belittled a victim of domestic violence for
failing to respond to a subpoena issued by the State Attorney to testify in the trial
against her abuser, who is the father of her child. As a result of the victim’s failure
to appear, the State was unable to proceed with the trial. Consequently, the State
dismissed a charge against the defendant for dangerous exhibition of a weapon and
the defendant accepted a plea to a reduced charge of simple battery.
Judge Collins issued an order to show cause why the victim should not be
held in contempt of court for violating the trial subpoena by failing to appear for
trial. When the victim appeared before Judge Collins, the judge instituted direct
criminal contempt proceedings in which the victim was not represented by counsel
nor advised of her right to present evidence or testimony on her own behalf.
During the contempt proceedings, Judge Collins was discourteous and impatient
toward the distraught victim. The victim apologized for failing to appear, citing
anxiety, depression, and a desire to move on from contact with her abuser as
reasons why she did not appear for trial. Meanwhile, Judge Collins raised her
voice, used sarcasm, spoke harshly, and interrupted the victim. Judge Collins
found the victim in contempt of court and sentenced her to spend three days in jail
even though the victim pleaded with the court that she needed to take care of her
one-year-old child.
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Furthermore, Judge Collins’ behavior created the appearance of partiality
toward the State. After pressing the victim about the veracity of her statements to
police, Judge Collins rebuked her for failing to appear to testify, declaring “You
disobeyed a court order knowing that this was not going to turn out well for the
State.” Judge Collins noted that the victim previously indicated to the State
Attorney that she was not going to show up. The victim further disclosed that at a
domestic abuse class she asked them to drop the charges because she was trying to
move on with her life. Moreover, the victim declared that she was “not in a good
place,” a remark to which Judge Collins responded, “and violating a court order
did not do anything for you.”
Following this incident, Judge Collins entered into a Stipulation with the
JQC admitting her misconduct and stipulating to a public reprimand. Judge
Collins explained her good faith belief that she was exercising appropriate legal
authority in holding the victim in direct criminal contempt for failing to appear in
response to a subpoena.1 However, the judge acknowledged that she should have
been more patient, used less inflammatory and sarcastic language, and used a less
aggressive tone during the proceedings. Judge Collins accepted full responsibility
1. After the incident at issue, this Court released its opinion in State v. Diaz
de la Portilla, 177 So. 3d 965 (Fla. 2015), clarifying that a failure to appear in court
should be treated as indirect criminal contempt.
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for her conduct and expressed remorse that her intemperate conduct brought
unnecessary criticism upon her court and the entire judiciary, and could impair the
public’s perception of the fairness and impartiality of Florida’s justice system.
However, upon review of the charges and the terms of the Stipulation, this
Court concluded that the terms of the Stipulation were inadequate to address the
violation. Consequently, this Court issued an order on April 25, 2016, rejecting the
terms of the Stipulation and disapproving the proposed sanction. The order
declared that this Court would require successful completion of an anger
management course and attendance at the domestic violence course offered during
Phase II of the Florida Judicial College in addition to the public reprimand. On
May 5, 2016, Judge Collins and the JQC filed a revised consent judgment agreeing
to the terms outlined in this Court’s order.
ANALYSIS
This Court “may accept, reject, or modify in whole or in part the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations of the [JQC] and it may order that the . . . judge
be subjected to appropriate discipline.” See, e.g., In re Sheehan, 139 So. 3d 290,
291-92 (Fla. 2014) (quoting art. V, § 12(c)(1), Fla. Const.). “This Court reviews
the findings of the JQC to determine whether the alleged violations are supported
by clear and convincing evidence, and reviews the recommended discipline to
determine whether it should be approved.” In re Flood, 150 So. 3d 1097, 1098
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(Fla. 2014) (quoting In re Woodard, 919 So. 2d 389, 390 (Fla. 2006)). “Although
this Court gives the findings and recommendations of the JQC great weight, the
ultimate power and responsibility in making a determination to discipline a judge
rests with this Court.” Id. (quoting In re Renke, 933 So. 2d 482, 493 (Fla. 2006)).
The JQC alleged that Judge Collins’ conduct violated Canons 1, 2A, and
3B(4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Canon 1 states: “An independent and
honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should
participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing high standards of conduct,
and shall personally observe those standards so that the integrity and independence
of the judiciary may be preserved.” Fla. Code of Jud. Conduct, Canon 1. Canon
2A states: “A judge shall respect and comply with the law and shall act at all times
in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the
judiciary.” Fla. Code of Jud. Conduct, Canon 2A. Canon 3B(4) states: “A judge
shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers,
and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity, and shall require
similar conduct of lawyers, and of staff, court officials, and others subject to the
judge’s direction and control.” Fla. Code of Jud. Conduct, Canon 3B(4).
We have held that “where a judge admits to wrongdoing and the JQC’s
findings are undisputed, this Court will ordinarily conclude that the JQC’s findings
are supported by clear and convincing evidence.” In re Flood, 150 So. 3d at 1098
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(quoting In re Diaz, 908 So. 2d 334, 337 (Fla. 2005)). In the Stipulation filed with
this Court, Judge Collins accepted full responsibility for her wrongful conduct.
She acknowledged and expressed regret that her conduct was not patient,
courteous, or dignified, and resulted in multiple violations of the Code of Judicial
Conduct. Moreover, Judge Collins was remorseful that the manner in which she
carried out her judicial duties placed the judiciary in a negative light. Thus, we
conclude that the JQC’s findings are supported by clear and convincing evidence.
However, upon reviewing the findings of the JQC, we determined that a
public reprimand was insufficient to address Judge Collins’ violations. This Court
has repeatedly concluded that a public reprimand is the appropriate form of
discipline for a “judge’s rude or intemperate behavior in open court.” See In re
Wood, 720 So. 2d 506, 509 (Fla. 1998). However, Judge Collins’ aggressive tone
with a victim of domestic violence and the interjection of comments exhibiting
partiality toward the State warranted additional sanctions. See In re Woodard, 919
So. 2d at 392 (approving public reprimand and completion of anger management
counseling for judge’s repeated tardiness, rudeness, and impatience in dealing with
attorneys, litigants, and witnesses appearing before him).
The revised consent judgment subsequently entered into by the JQC and
Judge Collins includes terms more appropriate to address the acts of misconduct in
this case. Thus, we approve the terms of the revised consent judgment requiring
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Judge Collins’ appearance before this Court for a public reprimand, completion of
an anger management course, and attendance at the domestic violence course
offered during Phase II of the Florida Judicial College. We recognize that Judge
Collins completed an anger management course on April 29, 2016, satisfying the
sanction imposed by the revised consent judgment.
CONCLUSION
We accept the revised consent judgment entered into by Judge Jerri Collins
and the JQC. Accordingly, we hereby command Judge Jerri Collins to appear
before this Court for the administration of a public reprimand at a time to be
established by the Clerk of this Court. We recognize Judge Collins’ completion of
the anger management course. Furthermore, we approve the condition that Judge
Collins attend the domestic violence course offered during Phase II of the Florida
Judicial College.
It is so ordered.
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, and
POLSTON, JJ., concur.
PERRY, J., recused.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND
IF FILED, DETERMINED.
Original Proceeding – Judicial Qualifications Commission
Judge Kerry I. Evander, Chair, Judge James A. Ruth, Vice-Chair, Michael Louis
Schneider, Executive Director and General Counsel, and Alexander John Williams,
Assistant General Counsel, Tallahassee, Florida,
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for Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, Petitioner
Warren William Lindsey of Lindsey & Ferry, P.A., Winter Park, Florida,
for Judge Jerri Collins, Respondent
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