Case Title: Inquiry Concerning Judge Brenda C. Wilson

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC94-587

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 1999-10-28T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida
 
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No. 94,587
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INQUIRY CONCERNING A JUDGE, NO. 98-231
RE:  BRENDA C. WILSON
[October 28, 1999]
PER CURIAM.
We review the findings and recommendations of the Florida Judicial
Qualifications Commission (JQC), recommending that Judge Brenda C. Wilson be
publicly reprimanded for various acts of misconduct.  We have jurisdiction.  Art.
V, § 12, Fla. Const.
On December 28, 1998, the Investigative Panel of the JQC filed a "Notice of
Formal Charges" in this Court.  The charges are summarized as follows.
During the early morning hours of May 2, 1998, Judge Wilson drove to a
Denny's restaurant after consuming alcoholic beverages.  Judge Wilson joined a
group of intoxicated people and witnessed one of the people handle a video
surveillance camera that belonged to Denny's restaurant.  Judge Wilson then
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accompanied the group to the residence of one of the group's members, where she
saw that one person from this group had possession of the camera and was told that
it had been taken from Denny's.  Judge Wilson did not report the theft of the
camera.
Judge Wilson returned to Denny's restaurant, while intoxicated,
approximately two weeks later.  When questioned by Denny's employees, Judge
Wilson claimed she had no knowledge of the theft.  When Judge Wilson
discovered the employee knew her identity, she asked that her name be kept out of
the matter.  Only after learning the theft had been reported to law enforcement did
Judge Wilson provide the employees with information as to the identity of the
person she saw in possession of the camera.
Deputy sheriffs later interviewed Judge Wilson concerning the theft of the
camera.  Judge Wilson initially told detectives that she went home after leaving
Denny's, concealing her knowledge that a crime had taken place.  After being
informed by the deputies that other witnesses had told them she had accompanied
the group to the residence, Judge Wilson admitted being there and told the deputies
what had happened.
The Investigative Panel further asserted that Judge Wilson's behavior
indicated a potential addiction to alcohol which could affect her fitness to serve as
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a judge.  The Investigative Panel also concluded that if these acts occurred they
could constitute a violation of Canons 1, 2 (A), and 5(A)(2) of the Code of Judicial
Conduct, and impair confidence in the integrity of the judicial system and Judge
Wilson, demonstrating her present unfitness to hold office.
Judge Wilson did not contest the allegations contained in the "Notice of
Formal Charges" and waived her right to trial by the hearing panel of the
Commission.  In addition, prior to the stipulation, Judge Wilson voluntarily began
a counseling program with a psychologist and signed a one-year Florida Lawyers
Assistance, Inc., rehabilitation contract in which she agreed to participate in a
twelve-step program and actively participate in a support group program for
recovering professionals.
The Investigative Panel in its findings and recommendations found the facts
to be as set forth in the "Notice of Formal Charges" and recommended the
following discipline:
1.  A ten-day suspension without pay.
2.  A public reprimand by the Supreme Court of Florida.
3.  Completion of an alcohol treatment program at a facility approved
by the JQC.
4.  Continued counseling with a psychologist until the
psychologist determines counseling is no longer necessary, with
written quarterly reports regarding her progress provided to the JQC.
5.  An in-person apology to Agent Christopher Reeves and
Sergeant Michael DeTar of the Lee County Sheriff's Office for making
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false statements to them concerning the theft of the video camera.
6.  A written apology to the manager of the Denny's restaurant,
for making a false statement to him concerning the theft of the video
camera and for asking him to keep Judge Wilson's name out of the
matter.
In reviewing the parties' stipulation, we have considered Judge Wilson's
admitted misconduct and her voluntary enrollment in counseling, a twelve-step
program, and a support group.  After considering those factors, we approve the
findings and recommendations.  However, we require Judge Wilson to appear
before this Court to receive her public reprimand.  In In re Norris, 581 So. 2d 578,
579 (Fla.1991), this Court found that requiring a judge to make a personal
appearance to receive a public reprimand "truly is extraordinary and has been done
only when the judge's conduct reflects either a willful disregard of the law or
serious, cumulative misconduct on the bench."  In our view, Judge Wilson's actions
in this case fit within the category of "willful disregard of the law" we referred to in
Norris.  In the present case, Judge Wilson attempted to hinder law enforcement by
asking the employees at Denny's not to identify her as a witness to a crime.  Judge
Wilson further showed her disregard for law enforcement when she initially lied to
two deputy sheriffs concerning her knowledge that a crime had taken place.  This
conduct is unacceptable from a judge who is sworn to uphold the law and
illustrates a serious violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
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Accordingly, we hereby command Judge Brenda C. Wilson to appear before
this Court for the administration of a public reprimand at 9 a.m. on Monday,
December 6, 1999, for the actions noted above.
It is so ordered.
HARDING, C.J., and SHAW, WELLS, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, LEWIS and
QUINCE, JJ., concur.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND IF
FILED, DETERMINED.
Original Proceedings - Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission
Miette K. Burnstein, Chair, Tallahassee, Florida, Thomas C. MacDonald, Jr.,
General Counsel, Tampa, Florida, and Eileen L. Tilghman, Special Counsel to the
Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission of Ross & Tilghman, Miami, Florida, 
for Petitioner
Richard C. McFarlain of McFarlain, Wiley, Cassedy & Jones, P.A., Tallahassee,
Florida,
for Judge Brenda C. Wilson, Respondent