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In 2005, Florida judges adopted nine principles of professionalism that address concepts not covered by existing rule
These principles are promulgated to encourage judges, including general magistrates, child support hearing officers, and traffic infraction hearing officers to fulfill their obligation to be civil and respectful to all persons with whom they deal in an official capacity, and to require similar conduct from others, according to the commission.
The Code of Judicial Conduct governing behavior by judges forbids the Judges of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit to discuss pending cases with the public. Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case. The Court is only allowed to consider arguments made in the courtroom and in documents properly filed by actual parties in the case as authorized by law and the Rules of Court. The Court cannot ethically read or consider any other opinions or arguments about the case. Communications that do not meet these legal requirements cannot be forwarded to the Judges.
Florida’s judges are required to follow the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. The standards of the Code are spelled out in sections called “Canons,” rules that govern a judge’s behavior, both on the bench and in their personal lives. The Canons must be applied consistently with constitutional requirements, statutes, court rules and case law.
Because judges are judges all the time – not just on the bench – their behavior and comments are always a reflection of the judiciary. The Canons require judges to act in a way that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the branch. They must avoid even the appearance of impropriety. This means judges must steer clear of doing or saying anything that seems dishonest or unethical, even if they might not be doing anything wrong.
The Canons require that judges refrain from making any comment that could affect the outcome of a case or interfere with a fair trial or hearing. This is the reason judges avoid discussing anything other than the general administration of justice, ways to improve it, or to explain court procedures.
The Canons specifically state that judges may not discuss cases that are waiting to be finished (pending cases) or about cases that are complete at the trial court level, but still moving through the appeals process. Once a judge enters a sentence in a criminal case or enters a final judgment in a civil case, an appeal to a higher court may be filed. If the appeal is successful, that same judge may be called upon to address issues from that case in the future.
It is the Code of Judicial Conduct (and the Canons found there) that prevents judges from granting interview requests regarding court cases, even after they have been resolved.
Please consider reading more about Florida’s Code of Judicial Conduct.