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Florida judge beats up lawyer in the middle of a trial (video)


nuckin_futz

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A fight between a judge and a public defender broke out in a courtroom in Brevard County Florida on Monday.

Judge John Murphy was allegedly trying to get public defender Andrew Weinstock to waive his client’s right to a speedy trial.

Video footage shows Murphy telling Weinstock, “You know, if I had a rock I would throw it at you right now. Stop pissing me off. Just sit down.” Weinstock responds, “You know I’m the public defender. I have a right to be here and I have a right to stand and represent my client.”

Murphy then invites Weinstock to go out to a hallway in the back so they could settle their dispute with fists. Murphy is heard saying, “If you want to fight, let’s go out back and I’ll just beat your ass.”

Public defender Blaise Trettis said Weinstock thought Murphy just wanted to talk, but was unpleasantly surprised. Trettis told WFTV, “The attorney said that immediately upon entering the hallway he was grabbed by the collar and began to be struck. There was no discussion, no talk, not even time for anything. Just as soon as they’re in the hallway, the attorney was grabbed.”

Deputies broke up the fight and Murphy went right back into the courtroom and finished up. Murphy was not charged with anything, but the incident will be reported to the Florida Bar Association.

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Wow just wow.

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A fight between a judge and a public defender broke out in a courtroom in Brevard County Florida on Monday.

Judge John Murphy was allegedly trying to get public defender Andrew Weinstock to waive his client’s right to a speedy trial.

Video footage shows Murphy telling Weinstock, “You know, if I had a rock I would throw it at you right now. Stop pissing me off. Just sit down.” Weinstock responds, “You know I’m the public defender. I have a right to be here and I have a right to stand and represent my client.”

Murphy then invites Weinstock to go out to a hallway in the back so they could settle their dispute with fists. Murphy is heard saying, “If you want to fight, let’s go out back and I’ll just beat your ass.”

Public defender Blaise Trettis said Weinstock thought Murphy just wanted to talk, but was unpleasantly surprised. Trettis told WFTV, “The attorney said that immediately upon entering the hallway he was grabbed by the collar and began to be struck. There was no discussion, no talk, not even time for anything. Just as soon as they’re in the hallway, the attorney was grabbed.”

Deputies broke up the fight and Murphy went right back into the courtroom and finished up. Murphy was not charged with anything, but the incident will be reported to the Florida Bar Association.

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Wow just wow.

Right, because you frequently beat someone's ass with words.

Dumb judge and dumb lawyer.

'Merica.

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The judge will most likely get away with it. I would be a bit surprised if he even gets a mark/warning against his law license. Now that the public defender is pretty much "damaged goods" in the Florida legal system, he would be wise to just practice law in another state. There's always a need for them in the legal system because few want the job.

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The judge will most likely get away with it. I would be a bit surprised if he even gets a mark/warning against his law license. Now that the public defender is pretty much "damaged goods" in the Florida legal system, he would be wise to just practice law in another state. There's always a need for them in the legal system because few want the job.

You have this completely backwards. Did you not see the video?

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I feel proud to be part of such an honourable profession!

Seriously though, the legal system in some of the southern states is basically like the wild west, as this video shows. Although it's pretty rare to see something like this, it's far more common to see lawyers disrespecting judges by speaking out of turn, giving them underhanded insults, etc.

Courts in Canada are, thankfully, much more civilized.

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I feel proud to be part of such an honourable profession!

Seriously though, the legal system in some of the southern states is basically like the wild west, as this video shows. Although it's pretty rare to see something like this, it's far more common to see lawyers disrespecting judges by speaking out of turn, giving them underhanded insults, etc.

Courts in Canada are, thankfully, much more civilized.

What do you do for a living?

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I feel proud to be part of such an honourable profession!

Seriously though, the legal system in some of the southern states is basically like the wild west, as this video shows. Although it's pretty rare to see something like this, it's far more common to see lawyers disrespecting judges by speaking out of turn, giving them underhanded insults, etc.

Courts in Canada are, thankfully, much more civilized.

I went to traffic court in Southern Ontario once in the mid-90's and it was actually interesting. The ADA and OPP officer were actually joking around and were even very polite. She reduced the speed of the infraction (even after she knew that the OPP officers had already reduced it to begin with) so the judge wouldn't try and throw the book at me.

Also, I showed up early so I could watch the actual criminal cases that they were going through. That's when I learned that the judges were called, "your worship" instead of "your honour".

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You have this completely backwards. Did you not see the video?

Oh I just realized what you mean by your reply. By law license, I mean the judges law license. My comment about the lawyer leaving the area to practice elsewhere is because he will have a hard time arguing cases in other local courtrooms now. Judges, like corrupt cops, stick together.

As far as his law career goes in Florida, he is "damaged goods". The private sector won't hire him for fear of angering other sitting justices.

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Oh I just realized what you mean by your reply. By law license, I mean the judges law license. My comment about the lawyer leaving the area to practice elsewhere is because he will have a hard time arguing cases in other local courtrooms now. Judges, like corrupt cops, stick together.

As far as his law career goes in Florida, he is "damaged goods". The private sector won't hire him for fear of angering other sitting justices.

I think judges are going to want to distance themselves from this other judge. If they are part of the old boys club they will believe in a certain sense of decorum that was most clearly violated by this judge. We don't get to see the whole context, but that short video indicated that the lawyer was doing what was within his right.

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Also, I showed up early so I could watch the actual criminal cases that they were going through. That's when I learned that the judges were called, "your worship" instead of "your honour".

It actually depends both on the jurisdiction you're in and the level of court. I'm not sure how it works in Ontario, but in BC it breaks down like this:

  • Supreme Court and Court of Appeal: My Lord/My Lady
  • Provincial Court: Your Honour
  • Remand court (where a Judicial Justice of the Peace sits): Your Worship
  • Chambers (when a Master is sitting): Your Honour
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I think judges are going to want to distance themselves from this other judge. If they are part of the old boys club they will believe in a certain sense of decorum that was most clearly violated by this judge. We don't get to see the whole context, but that short video indicated that the lawyer was doing what was within his right.

I hope that you're right, but I just have my doubts. The legal system in the U.S., from the cops all of the way up to the judges, is just so corrupt in so many places.

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Anyone know why the gallery started clapping?

I don't think they're a normal gallery. I suspect by the way they moved that they're defendants being brought before the judge. When one went to the front row all the others moved up one seat in line.

They probably clapped because it's in their best interest to be on his good side.

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It actually depends both on the jurisdiction you're in and the level of court. I'm not sure how it works in Ontario, but in BC it breaks down like this:

  • Supreme Court and Court of Appeal: My Lord/My Lady
  • Provincial Court: Your Honour
  • Remand court (where a Judicial Justice of the Peace sits): Your Worship
  • Chambers (when a Master is sitting): Your Honour

Thanks, I find it fascinating that they are called by different names at different levels.

I also remember that as nice as the ADA was with the traffic court defendants, she was actually pretty sharp when it came to arguing the criminal cases with the judge. I remember with one of the final cases, she didn't like a ruling on what I think was a point of procedure that the judge made, and without skipping a beat curtly said something to the effect of, "I believe your Worship has been quashed on this issue in the past", then the judge just got a weird look on her face and abruptly reversed herself. I got a kick out of seeing that.

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