SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —
Seminole County judge Wayne Culver is still hearing local cases.
In late June, it appeared he would be soon disciplined for some bench behavior earlier this year.
One incident, which took place on Feb. 10, is believed to address Culver's behavior in a video that shows him cursing at a defendant.
"Can you shut up and sit down?" he's heard saying in the video.
"That's not shutting up," he replies when the defendant responds.
"Do you want to be held in contempt and go to jail?" He is heard asking. "I asked you a [expletive] question [expletive]."
It appeared Culver, after admitting his behavior violated the code of Judicial Conduct, would get a 60-day suspension and likely a reprimand.
Also, back in June as the proposed discipline was spelled out, it was known the Florida Supreme Court would have the last word. It just filed a new document. The discipline case is not over.
In the filing, the "court rejects the stipulation and disapproves of the proposed sanctions" and orders "further proceedings to include a full hearing before the judicial qualifications commission."
Paul Flemming is a public information officer with the Florida Supreme Court.
"The court rejected that recommendation and sent that back to the judicial qualifications commission and asked for it to proceed with a hearing," Flemming said.
The judicial qualifications commission is independent, but based on the Supreme Court filing, will move the Culver case to hearing.
"The court itself cannot investigate or initiate investigations of judicial misconduct," Flemming said.
The case also involves an incident in January where Culver handed out a lengthy sentence after some back and forth with a person in front of him in court. A sentence he later set aside.
It is not clear when a hearing might be held.
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