Case Title: Inquiry Concerning a Judge Re: Kenton H. Haymans

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC96-830

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2000-09-14T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme 
Court 
of 
Florida
 
____________
No. SC96830
____________
INQUIRY CONCERNING A JUDGE,
NOS. 98-316 and 98-419,
 RE:  KENTON H. HAYMANS 
[September 14, 2000]
PER CURIAM.
We have for review the recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications
Commission that Judge Kenton H. Haymans be publicly reprimanded.  We have
jurisdiction.  Art. V, § 12, Fla. Const.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission (“JQC”) on October 7, 1999, filed
notice of formal proceedings against Judge Haymans alleging that he had engaged
in a pattern of rudeness and disrespect toward lawyers, parties, witnesses, victims,
and court personnel.  See R. Fla. Jud. Qual. Comm’n R. 6; Fla. Code Jud.
-2-
Conduct, Canons 1-3.  The JQC documented specific examples of alleged
misconduct.  The judge filed an answer admitting the misconduct, apologizing,
recusing himself from further work on the criminal bench, and promising not to
seek reelection when his term ends in January 2001.  He waived a formal hearing
before the Hearing Panel of the JQC, and the Investigative Panel subsequently filed
in this Court its findings and recommendation that Judge Haymans be publicly
reprimanded.  Judge Haymans stipulated to the recommendation.  See Fla. Jud.
Qual. Comm’n R. 6(j).
Based on the foregoing, we approve the findings and recommendation of the
Investigative Panel of the JQC and, pursuant to the guidelines announced in In re
Frank, 753 So. 2d 1228 (Fla. 2000), hereby order Judge Haymans to appear before
this Court at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2000, to be publicly reprimanded
for his misconduct.  
It is so ordered.
WELLS, C.J., and SHAW, HARDING, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, LEWIS and
QUINCE, JJ., concur.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND
IF FILED, DETERMINED.
Original Proceeding - Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission
-3-
Honorable Miette K. Burnstein, Chair, and Thomas C. MacDonald, Jr., General
Counsel, Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, Tallahassee, Florida; and
Steven A. Werber and John S. Mills of Foley & Lardner, Jacksonville, Florida,
Special Counsel to the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission,
for Petitioner
Richard C. McFarlain of McFarlain, Wiley, Cassedy & Jones, P.A., Tallahassee,
Florida,
for Respondent