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It’s not every day that you allegedly catch a judge wring her hands around a courthouse employee’s neck on camera, but when that day comes, you can be sure that the judge in question is going to see her career choked out by the proper disciplinary authorities.
On June 11, Broward Circuit Judge Vegina “Gina” Hawkins was filmed while she allegedly physically assaulted an employee because her afternoon docket wasn’t completed when she expected it that morning. An investigative panel of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission has recommended that Hawkins be suspended for her “exceptionally inappropriate” behavior. Hawkins claims that she was acting in “jest,” but surveillance footage and witness testimony suggest otherwise.
“After being informed that the papers would be provided to her shortly, Judge Hawkins sought out the employee who was working in another judge’s courtroom,” the filing said. “Entering the courtroom through a secure hallway, Judge Hawkins motioned for the employee to come outside into the hallway. As the employee walks through the doorway, Judge Hawkins placed her hands around his neck and shook him back and forth.”
The video shows Hawkins have a “brief but intense” conversation with the employee after the encounter, the JQC said. …
“The employee involved did not describe the judge’s demeanor that morning as friendly or joking, but described her as ‘extremely upset,’” the filing said. “Another employee who interacted with Judge Hawkins shortly after the incident says Judge Hawkins remarked about the encounter and demonstrated what she did by making a choking motion in the air. This employee described Judge Hawkins’ overall behavior as ‘unnecessarily unprofessional and unpredictable.’”
Hawkins has objected to the JQC’s recommendation of suspension, claiming she wasn’t sure if she actually touched the courthouse employee, but later conceded she had, admitting that “whether she touched him or not, her actions were inappropriate.”
Going so far as to state the incredibly obvious, the JQC noted: “Within the judicial branch, as in civilian life, it is never appropriate for a person in a supervisory position to put their hands around the neck of an employee or subordinate and shake them.”
The JQC has recommended that Hawkins be suspended indefinitely without pay until the investigation into her alleged misconduct is complete.
Video Shows Broward Judge Grabbing Court Employee by Neck [Daily Business Review]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.