BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Some of Florida's top judges are firing back against claims that post-traumatic stress disorder turned a Brevard County courtroom into a national embarrassment.
Last month, Judge John Murphy was suspended from the bench more than a year after being caught taking a public defender out in the hall for a fist fight.
PDF: JQC findings, conclusions and recommendations on Judge Murphy
Raw Video: Judge tells attorney 'I'll beat your ass' (Warning: Graphic language)
The judges called the PTSD defense too little, too late.
Florida's joint qualifying commission is responding to what Murphy said.
At the time, he had a new diagnosis blaming PTSD.
But the state's top judges say it's an excuse that came out of left field and doesn't make sense.
"You know, if I had a rock, I would throw it at you right now. Stop pissing me off. Just sit down. I'll take care of it. Sit down,” Murphy said to the public defender.
The video clip from the courtroom went viral.
"If you want to fight, let's go out back, and I'll just beat your (expletive),” Murphy said.
In a new filing with the Florida Supreme Court, the Judicial Qualifications Commission reflected on the year that has passed since the scandal erupted.
They wrote, “What is clear is Judge Murphy consistently maintained that he did not suffer from PTSD.”
The panel said the judge claimed he suffered anger management issues easily fixed with treatment.
Last month, he filed this diagnosis with the Supreme Court, which warns of Murphy's, "occupational impairment" which decreases work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress.”
According to the panel, stress comes with the territory in court, and Murphy could easily have another physical reaction arising from his PTSD.
"You had a lawyer practicing before you that you thought for at least two months was incompetent, correct?,” asked a panel member.
“Yes, sir,” Murphy said.
“And you did not report it to the Florida bar, did you?” said the panel member.
“I did not,” Murphy said.
The panel said what's equally troubling is the clear evidence that Murphy violated defendants' rights when he dealt with them in court without their lawyer, a public defender he allegedly thought was doing a bad job.
All of this is just an opinion filed with the Florida Supreme Court.
Murphy's final punishment still has to be decided.
WFTV
