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Courthouse Shocker! Judge Charged With Putting Phony Cases On Docket To Cover Up Absences

charges
John Patrick Contini

Now we know why Broward Circuit Judge John Patrick Contini resigned last month.

State investigators today charged former Judge Contini with a long and shocking list of alleged judicial misconduct.

The allegations include:

  • Having his judicial assistant create fictitious dockets including phony cases and hearings to cover up absences from the courthouse. It was alleged Contini was absent more than 30 days this year without telling the Chief Judge or administrative judge,
  • Posting confidential information from adoption cases on Facebook including names of the parties involved, which is against Florida law,
  • Having his judicial assistant do personal tasks such as pay his personal bills,
  • Sealing the civil case of Broward political operative Bill Lewis, a personal friend, although the case was not assigned to him and he had represented Lewis in the past,
  • Ordering a motion sealed that he be disqualified from a case,
  • Addressed court staff, litigants and attorneys in an arrogant, demeaning and dismissive tone.  He had already been warned by the Florida Supreme Court not to treat people in his courtroom with disrespect.
[vc_btn title=”Continue reading” style=”outline” color=”black” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.browardbeat.com%2Fcourthouse-shocker-judge-charged-with-putting-phony-cases-on-docket-to-cover-absences%2F||target:%20_blank|”][vc_message message_box_style=”outline” message_box_color=”black”]By Buddy Nevins, BrowardBeat.com, excerpt posted on SouthFloridaReporter.com, July 24, 2018[/vc_message]