Opinion ID: 1735018
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Removal from Office

Text: Regarding the appropriate sanction, Judge Henson argues that in recommending removal the panel failed to consider the three character witnesses and six character letters in his favor. Although there is no discussion in the Hearing Panel's findings as to the character evidence, the Hearing Panel specified that it gave full consideration [to] all the evidence  as do we. However, the character evidence, which includes testimonials of Judge Henson's trustworthiness, competence, and strong work ethic both as an attorney and judge, cannot overcome the grievous nature of the violations. We have previously removed judges despite strong character evidence or an unblemished judicial record when their misconduct was fundamentally inconsistent with the responsibilities of judicial office or struck at the heart of judicial integrity. See, e.g., Graziano, 696 So.2d at 749; In re Johnson, 692 So.2d 168, 173 (Fla.1997); LaMotte, 341 So.2d at 517-19. Next, Judge Henson argues that removal from office is too severe a sanction for the single instance of misconduct he has acknowledged in Count I. His argument is premised on this Court rejecting the finding of guilt on Count II, the more grievous of the two violations. We have determined that the finding of guilt as to Count II is supported by clear and convincing evidence. Judge Henson does not assert that removal is an inappropriate sanction if we approve the Hearing Panel's findings of guilt on both Counts I and II. Judge Henson admitted that he violated the Code of Judicial Conduct in accepting a $15,000 retainer to represent Ms. Jimenez and in counseling her during his final two weeks as a county court judge. This was a clear violation not only of Canon 5G of the Code of Judicial Conduct but also article V, section 13 of the Florida Constitution. [6] We reject Judge Henson's attempt to minimize the gravity of this misconduct. We recognize that he had concluded his judicial duties and moved out of his courthouse office. We also note that he did not enter a notice of appearance or appear in court on behalf of his client. Nonetheless, as the Hearing Panel recognized, he knowingly committed the transgression of beginning to practice law too soon. This was not a mere technical violation of the judicial canon and constitutional provision prohibiting judges from practicing law. Judge Henson knew exactly what he was doing. Claiming that he was on vacation, he did not resign from his position. Instead, while still a judge he accepted a referral of a case from a bail bondsman, received and held a $15,000 retainer check, arranged for representation of his client at a bond hearing, and met with her in his capacity as her attorney. Further, we need not consider the misconduct in Count I alone. Removal from office is necessitated by the combined misconduct in Counts I and II. It is proper to consider the violations in tandem, particularly because they involve the same client. Cf. In re McMillan, 797 So.2d 560, 573 (Fla.2001) (Even if a single impropriety were considered insufficient in isolation, the cumulative weight of the improprieties supports removal.); In re Crowell, 379 So.2d 107, 110 (Fla.1979) (reviewing acts of misconduct as a whole in approving removal of judge); In re Graham, 620 So.2d 1273, 1276 (Fla.1993) (reviewing cumulative conduct of judge and the totality of circumstances in approving removal of judge). As noted by counsel for the JQC, this Court has removed judges from office for less egregious misconduct. See Ford-Kaus, 730 So.2d at 272 (removing a judge who while a lawyer badly mishandled the filing of an appellate brief written by another attorney and then lied to her client about the filing and authorship of the brief and billed her client for work she did not actually perform, and who as a judge failed to disclose that an attorney appearing in her court was also personally representing the judge in a different matter); Graziano, 696 So.2d at 747-48 (removing a judge who improperly influenced the decision to hire her friend as a guardian ad litem, awarded her friend a pay raise despite her friend's unsatisfactory job performance, and spoke insultingly to court employees); Johnson, 692 So.2d at 172-73 (removing a judge for backdating plea agreements and conviction dates and for ordering an inordinate number of continuances in order to minimize the number of cases reported as being on her docket); In re Garrett, 613 So.2d 463, 465 (Fla.1993) (removing a judge who shoplifted an item from an electronics store); LaMotte, 341 So.2d at 513 (removing a judge who used a government credit card to pay for personal travel expenses). Ultimately, Judge Henson's misconduct deprives him of the probity and moral authority necessary to perform the duties of a circuit judge. As we stated in Ford-Kaus, [t]he judicial system can only function if the public is able to place its trust in judicial officers. 730 So.2d at 277. An attorney who has practiced law while still a judge and then counseled a client facing trial to avoid prosecution by fleeing the jurisdiction does not deserve, and likely will not receive, the public's trust. Having compromised his own integrity, Judge Henson would place the integrity of our judicial system at stake were he allowed to continue in office. This we cannot allow.