Broward Judge Could Face Reprimand

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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) — A Broward County circuit judge could receive a public reprimand after an investigation into a series of events that stemmed from an email he sent to an assistant public defender.

A panel of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended that Judge John Contini receive the reprimand and face other disciplinary actions including the required completion of a stress-management program.

The Supreme Court has the ultimate authority to discipline judges.

The series of events started with a March 2015 email sent by Contini to an assistant public defender and later disclosed to prosecutors. The email, which included a sentencing order from another court, led prosecutors to seek to disqualify Contini from pending criminal cases.

The issue went to the 4th District Court of Appeal.

The panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission said Contini took the matter "very personally" and made disparaging comments about prosecutors.

In August, Contini was transferred from hearing criminal cases to family-law cases.

The panel found that Contini, who was elected to the bench in 2014, violated the Code of Judicial Conduct but said he also has "expressed sincere remorse" for his actions.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.