A Seminole County judge could face a 60-day suspension without pay and a public reprimand after an investigation into two incidents in his courtroom.
An investigative panel of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission on Wednesday recommended that the state Supreme Court impose the suspension and reprimand Judge Wayne Culver. The panel, in part, cited Culver’s conduct during a Jan. 25 hearing in a case about an injunction against repeat or dating violence. Culver became angry about interruptions and “made comments to a litigant that lacked the dignity and courtesy expected and required of judges,” a document filed at the Supreme Court said.
In the other incident, which occurred on Feb. 10, Culver “raised his voice and used profanity while addressing an individual who had entered the courtroom and was standing in the gallery,” the document said.
“Sir, I’m doing something. Can you shut up and sit down?” the judge told the individual, who was looking for a seat and had spoken audibly from the gallery.
“Absolutely, I’m trying to find a seat,” the man said.
“That’s not shutting up,” the judge shouted back. “You want to be held in contempt and go to jail? I asked you a fucking question, asshole.”
“No, sir.”
“Then shut up,” Culver again shouted.
“Judge Culver’s inappropriate behavior on this occasion speaks for itself,” the commission found. “His words and actions are as offensive as they are inappropriate. Whether or not [the man’s] conduct would have warranted the contempt which was threatened, the commission finds that Judge Culver’s conduct was unnecessarily confrontational and escalated the disturbance and disruption instead of
de-escalating and minimizing the disturbance of the court proceeding. The Commission notes that Judge Culver later entered an order of recusal from [the man’s] own criminal case.”
The investigative panel and Culver reached an agreement, known as a stipulation, in which the judge acknowledged that his actions were undignified, impatient and discourteous and that he had violated the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct. The Supreme Court has the ultimate authority to discipline judges.
Culver, originally from Jacksonville (he moved to Seminole in 1977) was elected in 2020. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and got his law degree from Suffolk University in 2000. He was an assistant public defender, an assistant state attorney and a lawyer in private practice in the 20 years before his election to the bench.
Jimbo99 says
After a while, even the judge loses his sanity with seeing the same types in the courtroom. Finding a seat isn’t a vocal process really. It’s not like it’s SRO (standing room only). Traffic court as I recall in my late teens was a judge that felt free to abuse. One can watch their demeanor change with each case & decision, most of the time, there’s a sense of just going thru the motions, they don’t want to hear anyone’s side of the argument/debate. And even more often as it escalated a case or few before. Some other individual has already triggered the judge. As much as fair & impartial is, you can see it accumulates. That’s why traffic court is always perceived as guilty as charged, it’s a machine, a system & industry unto itself. The speeding citation out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. Something that if there wasn’t a police officer camped out hiding behind trees or depths of a ditch wouldn’t matter if it happened or not. Like when the exact time of a tidal change in the ocean or the sunrise or sunset time.
The ORIGINAL land of no turn signals says
This snow flake society doesn’t show respect to anyone of authority.I see no problem here.
hoperox says
I respectfully disagree. The judge’s conduct was alarming. He swore at someone who was simply entering the courtroom and looking for a seat. Then the judge doubled down. I also read that he neglected to follow simple paperwork procedures.
I suspect there are a few or several more incidences that haven’t come to light yet. Have seen this spiraling before. Am curious about the judge’s age. Is he in his 50s? Also, if he has been spending a lot of money recently, and if there’s been a change in long-term relationships. Certainly, it seems there’s been a change in behavior. I wonder if he’s been experiencing disrupted sleep or insomnia.
That’s fine if he’s ordered to cool his heels for 60 days, but if he still acts erratically upon his return, I recommend he see a neurologist.
LB2KOOL says
Well at least he didn’t grab the judge by the pussy.
hoperox says
Not sure how your quip is pertinent or helpful to this conversation.
Please expand. I do understand the reference, but at the moment we are discussing this judge’s serious sanction.
I look forward to your reply, LB.