Orange County Judge Martha Cannon Adams is slated to receive a public reprimand from the Supreme Court of Florida following a finding of “biased, impatient, undignified, and discourteous behavior” directed at staff and management of the Ninth Circuit State Attorney’s Office.
The Court, in a per curiam opinion released Tuesday, accepted a stipulation and findings of disciplinary recommendations from the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC).
The disciplinary action stems from Judge Adams’ conduct while presiding over criminal cases, during which she made “rude and intemperate comments” to members of the State Attorney’s Office.
READ: Florida Death Row Inmate Demands New Look At “Flawed” Case
Specific instances cited in the Court’s order include calling one assistant state attorney an “ass,” stating she would make the life of another State Attorney’s Office employee “a shambles,” and alleging a conspiracy by the State Attorney’s Office to remove her from the bench, leading her to declare she would have to start “being a ‘bitch’” in her rulings.
The Supreme Court concurred with the JQC’s conclusion that these actions violated Canons 1, 2A, 3B(4), and 3B(5) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which mandate that judges uphold the integrity of the courts and treat all parties respectfully and impartially.
While acknowledging that such behavior would often warrant more severe discipline, the Court noted mitigating factors in Judge Adams’ case.
The record indicates a clean disciplinary history throughout her seventeen years of prior judicial service, with no other complaints of this nature. Furthermore, the JQC found that Judge Adams has expressed deep regret and apologized in writing to the individuals directly affected by her misconduct.
READ: Florida Nears Vote On Bear Hunt Revival Following Rule Approval For Advertisement
“Judge Adams’ comments are well outside the bounds of what is acceptable for members of our judiciary,” the Court stated. However, “given this mitigation, discipline short of a suspension is sufficient.”
The Court approved the Stipulation and Findings and Recommendations of Discipline. Judge Adams has been ordered to appear before the Supreme Court of Florida for the administration of the public reprimand at a date and time to be determined by the Clerk of the Court.
The decision was joined by Chief Justice Muñiz and Justices Canady, Labarga, Couriel, Francis, and Sasso. Justice Grosshans recused himself from the proceedings.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
