LOCAL Brevard judge will take leave after courtroom scuffle
Stacey Barchenger and Andrew Ford, FLORIDA TODAY
UPDATE, 5:25 p.m.:
Brevard County Judge John Murphy will take a leave of absence and seek anger management counseling following a scuffle in his Viera courtroom Monday morning,officials said today.
Chief Judge John M. Harris issued a written statement this afternoon related to an incident and alleged fight that occurred between the judge and assistant public defender Andrew Weinstock.
Harris' statement says Murphy's cases have been reassigned to other judges.
"Moreover,Judge Murphy has agreed to seek anger management counseling and treatment during a temporary leave of absence," the statement says.
Also today:
The Florida Bar, which handles attorney
discipline, confirmed it has a "file open"
related to the courthouse brawl.
The Judicial Qualification Commission
could not confirm whether it was
investigating Judge Murphy's role in the
incident. However, officials said it was
the kind of thing the JQC would
investigate.
The criminal investigation continued, but
no charges were filed. Brevard County
sheriff's spokeswoman Deputy Maria
Fernez said deputies "weren't able to get
statements, that I'm aware of," from the
judge and attorney.
The involved attorney, Weinstock, took
the day off. Public Defender Blaise
Trettis said Weinstock would be out for
several days.
Update, 11:19 a.m.:
The day after a Brevard County judge allegedly fought with a public defender,the hall outside his normal courtroom was abuzz with chatter about a video that shows part of the incident.
Some said they saw it on Good Morning America. Others watched the video on their smartphones while awaiting their own court hearings.
Outside the courthouse,news trucks parked and television reporters did live takes on the front lawn.
Inside courtroom 3C,though,Judge John C Murphy was absent from the bench. Administrative Judge Michelle Baker took his seat and is handling Murphy's scheduled court proceedings today.
Murphy and assistant public defender Andrew Weinstock exchanged words in a hearing Monday morning. The exchange escalated,and video records Murphy challenging Weinstock: "If you want to fight let's go out back and I'll just beat your ass."
The men disappear off camera,to a hallway behind the judge's seat,and loud banging and cursing can be heard. The judge emerges,out of breath,but the attorney does not.
Brevard sheriff's spokeswoman Deputy Maria Fernez said the investigation was ongoing this morning,and deputies were working to get statements from both involved parties.
