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Judge
Cliff Barnes of St. Lucie County By Tyler
Treadway FORT PIERCE — A state Judicial Qualifications Commission panel has recommended that St. Lucie County Judge Cliff Barnes be publicly reprimanded but allowed to remain on the bench for criticizing other judges and public officials in a petition he filed with the 4th District Court of Appeal. The panel, which conducted a two-day hearing in April on charges of misconduct by Barnes, found him not guilty of a charge of demeaning fellow judges and court officials in a March 16, 2006, guest column in the Fort Pierce Tribune and not guilty of showing a "pattern and practice unbecoming a judicial officer." In the column and in the writ of mandamus he filed, Barnes chided judges, the State Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office and the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office for the way first appearance hearings are handled in the county courts, claiming that defendants aren't properly represented or given the chance to be released without imposition of bonds that some can't afford to pay. The panel also found that by filing the court petition, Barnes was guilty of giving the appearance of showing partiality in criminal proceedings, practicing law and not following proper channels within the legal system to modify judicial conduct. Barnes said Friday afternoon he was "extremely pleased" with the panel's findings of fact regarding the handling of first appearances and respectful of the members' recommendation of a reprimand, "although I don't happen to agree with it." The panel, Barnes noted, said that he had "good motives" but acted improperly by filing a petition against his cohorts in the judicial system. "I knew there would be consequences when I filed," he said, "and under normal circumstances, I would never have done it; but I think the evidence showed that these were not normal circumstances." Brooke Kennerly, the commission's executive director, said the state Supreme Court will decide whether to accept the panel's recommendation, determine its own form of discipline or dismiss the charges, adding that the court holds hearings allowing both sides to make oral arguments. "If the Florida Supreme Court deems the reprimand appropriate," Barnes said, "I'll accept that." GO TO: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/06/06-2119/index.html
and click on "Filed 08-01-2008 Findings.pdf" for the complete
report by the Judicial Qualifications First Amendment Rights & Judge Cliff Barnes
Findings, Conclusions And Recommendations
Petition to
Dismiss Charges Against Judge Cliff Barnes Introduction: Judicial corruption continues in Florida -- Bill Truelle Briefs & Other Documents in Re: Judge Cliff Barnes Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee Conflict-of-Interest Opinion Judges Speaking Out on Behalf of 'The People'
Click to Read Judge Barnes Petition for Writ of
Mandamus Findings, Conclusions And Recommendations By The Hearing Panel Of The Judicial Qualifications Commission
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A Feast
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