Judge Raul Zambrano, the chief judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, has removed embattled Circuit Judge Scott DuPont from all cases, ordered him to clear out of his offices at the Flagler and Putnam county courthouses by Monday, and stay out of any courthouse unless he’s conducting private business. Sheriff’s deputies and bailiffs in both courthouses were informed so as to properly enforce the order.
DuPont had presided over civil court, dividing his time between Flagler and Putnam counties. He was elected to the bench in 2010.
It is as close to the firing of a judge as it comes without the judge being formally fired: that responsibility is the exclusive ken of the Florida Supreme Court. Last week, the Judicial Qualifications Commission–the investigative arm of the Supreme Court–recommended to the Supreme Court, after a year-long inquiry, that DuPont be removed from the bench, finding him guilty of several violations of the judicial canon, in and out of the courtroom.
It was an extraordinary recommendation buttressed by withering evidence marshaled against DuPont, a recommendation whose gravity is now echoed by an equally extraordinary order that Zambrano issued in the form of a letter to DuPont earlier today.
“Please clear any of your personal belongings from the offices by Monday, February 26, 2018, so that the substitute judges can utilize the offices,” Zambrano wrote. “Please surrender all your keys and remote control access to the parking facilities to your Judicial Assistant by Monday, February 26, 2018.”
Wittingly or not, the wording of the letter starkly reflected DuPont’s devaluation even as Zambrano told him his status as a circuit judge was not altered. But no circuit judge in good standing is forbidden from stepping into a courthouse as a judge.
(© FlaglerLive)
It was not quite a surprise, nor without a hint of precedent in DuPont’s own case: a previous Chief Judge in the circuit, Terence Perkins, refused to assign DuPont to felony court as far aback as 2013, out of concern over DuPont’s temperament: Perkins worried that DuPont would incarcerate too many people for too long a term. That revelation may have raised questions about the chief judge’s essentially containing, if not coddling DuPont, in subsequent years, a prospect Zambrano clearly did not intent to mirror in any way.
The severity of the qualifications commission’s recommendation had prompted questions to Zambrano’s court administration regarding DuPont’s status, and whether he would be allowed to continue presiding over cases. The response last week was that decision was still in the works. Zambrano, a former felony judge in Flagler County who’s built a reputation as one of the circuit’s toughest judges, left no doubt as to the the answer: he did not want to jeopardize case outcomes with DuPont’s future so hazy, and his tenure now so equally clouded.
“After much thought and consideration to the status of the proceedings now pending against you,” Zambrano wrote DuPont, “I feel compelled to make a number of changes which, in my opinion, will minimize any impact on the administration of justice in the Seventh Judicial Circuit and help maintain public trust and confidence in the judiciary.”
Zambrano has ordered all of DuPont’s cases reassigned and reapportioned “pursuant to a separate administrative order,” including any cases DuPont may have under advisement.
“Further,” Zambrano wrote in one of the most sharply revealing lines of the order–a line as likely to resonate with Supreme Court justices as the qualifications commission’s recommendation–“I am temporarily assigning you to unspecified duties to be determined. These duties will be performed away from any courthouse of the Seventh Judicial Circuit.” The reassignment, in other words, is the equivalent of a paid suspension. (Circuit Court judges are paid $148,080 a year.)
Substitute judges, likely including senior judges who are called in to lighten colleagues’ dockets, will be assigned DuPont’s docket, potentially straining the Seventh Judicial Circuit’s budget to the extent that judges currently used as extra help will be shifted, which may increase burdens on existing judges in Flagler and Putnam.
Judges who have faced the sort of investigations or recommendations for impeachment DuPont is facing have at times, if not most times, chosen to resign before the Supreme Court decides the matter. Earlier this month Broward County Judge Claudia Robinson resigned as she was being investigated. Thirteen months ago former Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey III resigned in Jacksonville during an investigation over allegations he’d used racist, sexist language.
DuPont’s case is the most serious of its kind in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, however, where the last time a judge faced sanctions goes back to 2007, when Steven deLaroche resigned as county judge in Volusia after he was accusing of fixing traffic tickets. He resigned while being investigated. Curiously, he was among the applicants last fall to replace Volusia County Judge Shirley Green, who resigned a year into her latest term. (DeLaroche was not chosen: David A. Cromartie, a former prosecutor in State Attorney R.J. Larizza’s office, was appointed.)
DuPont is continuing the fight. On Feb. 19 the Supreme Court ordered him to show cause by March 12 why the Judicial Qualifications Commission’s recommendation should not be granted. The commission would then have until April 12 to reply, and DuPont given until mid-April to respond.
On Thursday DuPont asked for a 45-day extension to April 26. The reason? His attorney, Rutledge Liles of Jacksonville, has a planned month-long trip to Europe with his wife starting on March 23.
The Supreme Court gave a 10-day extension.
Chief Judge Raul Zambrano’s Letter to Scott DuPont (2018)
Click to access zambrano-dupont-letter.pdf
Marty Barrett says
Dupont holds himself out as a Christian, but given how Karma has come a knocking, he shouldn’t doubt Hinduism as the gospel
Anonymous says
It is amazing at how many judges in the 7th Judicial Circuit have faced complaints and that so many have resigned. It is alarming that so many have been referenced in this article….that makes me wonder how many should have been investigated that haven’t been, which makes me not have confidence in our judiciary. Some judges are just too big for their britches…..and I see no justifiable reason why they need to be paid nearly $150k a year plus paid holidays, vacation, retirement and health and other benefits. Our legislators need to revisit this and make appropriate adjustments. Some judges stay on the bench for 20, 30 or more years! This too is alarming because if a complaint isn’t filed against them and they are not investigated (which most people do not know how to go about doing, and don’t have the resources to hire an attorney) they get away with just about anything! I am deeply concerned that Judges in the 7th Judicial Circuit, such as Judge Dennis Craig have gone to the defense of Scott DuPont! Is it legal and appropriate for a judge to support and defend wrong doing? Judge Zambrano and former Chief Judge Terrance Perkins have failed us here by by not putting DuPont in another position, taking him off the bench when the investigation initiated. That was nothing more than pure neglect and wrong! Anyone that had a problem with how Dupont handled their case during that time period should be entitled to a redo at the State’s expense. I don’t want to hear this crap of budgets and struggles with being able to hire more judges when these judges are paid the salary of 2-3 working men and women. CUT THE FAT! These people aren’t God’s and they too will face Judgement day. If they don’t want to accept the role of a job at a reasonable rate of pay then stay in private practice or work for the State Attorney. Reform here is long over due. Our system has failed us again. I can only see how more have gotten away with what they shouldn’t have rather than more have been done their jobs honorably. Term Limits need to be set for Judge’s as well a annual health evaluations to ensure their judgment is not impaired by medical conditions.
Chris A Pickett says
These things need to be. We have people in positions in local, state and federal government that are bringing their own political views into their job, as well as abusing their positions and that needs to stop.
Edith Campins says
He is an arrogant bully.
Roger Niehaus says
Thank you for your decision Your Honor you are a wise and Just Man and im sure a great Judge at that. May God Bless you many times over Thank you Sincerely Roger Niehaus and Family
Anonymous says
Dupont was under investigation when Zambrano was elected Chief Judge, almost immediately after the JQC made it’s recommendation he made his adjustments. Remember due process? It’s easy to make silly statements when uninformed.
Anonymous says
This judge should have been taken off the bench when an investigation was launched….it is shameful that it took so long for the outcome and action of removal of DuPont.
Florida voter says
Let the appeals begin.
How much of our $$$ did the Honorable DuPont waste through this? What will the cost be for all of the appeals that will be filed? How many of his sentences will be overturned? How many of his convictions will be retried?
Anonymous says
Thank God.
nah says
Since Zambrano removed him immediately Florida Voter, should be minimal. Re-read the first paragraph of the letter.
Miriam C Phipps says
I can’t begin to express how terrified I am of doing anything through the Florida judicial system. Florida’s reputation. It is a system with a very frightening reputation. So many horror stories out there.
Victim of Injustice says
Has anyone else victimized by Judge Dupont thought of a class action lawsuit or how we would go about doing that? His controversial cases should be reopened and reviewed if requested. How do we do that?