Title: In re Inquiry Concerning Judge Jerri Collins

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

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. 
 
 
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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