Supreme Court to reprimand two judges
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – The Florida Supreme Court will publicly reprimand two county judges in separate ethics cases.
The justices Thursday ordered the reprimands for Volusia County Judge Mary Jane Henderson and Charlotte County Judge Peter A. Bell. Both undermined public trust of the courts and expressed remorse.
Henderson helped a drug defendant lease an apartment, lent him $4,000 for a truck and bought him a cell phone. She also held money for the man who caused disturbances when visting her in her chambers and at home.
Bell ordered a domestic abuse victim arrested at a hearing for her ex-husband. Bell, who had known the couple, claimed police and prosecutors were biased in arresting only the ex-husband.