Florida High Court Reprimands Judge in Public

Florida’s Supreme Court, for only the second time in its history, publicly reprimanded a judge Friday, rebuking him for 14 judicial indiscretions that included waving a gun from the bench.

Circuit Judge Wallace E. Sturgis Jr. of Marion County was summoned before the court and accused by Chief Justice Raymond Ehrlich of sullying his reputation.

“This is probably one of the most distasteful chores that I have had to perform,” Ehrlich told Sturgis and a courtroom audience.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission found Sturgis guilty of the 14 counts of misconduct. The commission said that, besides waving a handgun twice in hearings, Sturgis failed for 19 years to keep adequate records of a $20,000 estate he managed for a blind and incompetent family friend. It said he should have transferred the account when he became a judge in 1973.

“For more than 15 years you in the exercise of your judicial duties have stood in judgment of others,” Erlich said. “Today, you are the one being judged.” It was a “lack of corrupt motives and the absence of moral turpitude” that kept the commission from recommending Sturgis’ removal, the chief justice said.

Sturgis said nothing to the court and left without comment.

In earlier hearings, an attorney for Sturgis said he pulled the gun because of a “startle reflex.” He said the judge had been attacked and was nervous about courthouse security.

The last judge ordered to appear before the court for reprimand was Circuit Judge Jack Block of Miami, who was rebuked two years ago for violating legal ethics before he joined the bench, said Sid White, clerk of the court.

Usually, the court issues reprimands in writing.