Home » Home » Brevard Judge Takes Leave of Absence After Fight

Brevard Judge Takes Leave of Absence After Fight

By  //  June 3, 2014

Judge Enrolls In Anger Management Class

ABOVE VIDEO: Judge John Murphy and public defender Andrew Weinstock fight outside a courtroom in Viera.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA —  Brevard County Judge John Murphy is taking a leave of absence and will undgero anger management therapy following his fight with public defender Andrew Weinstock.

Judge John Murphy, a Brevard County Court judge, was elected in September of 2006 and re-elected in 2012 for a term that expires on January 8, 2019. Murphy was unopposed and automatically re-elected following the Nov. 6, 2012 general election. (Florida Courts image)
Judge John Murphy, a Brevard County Court judge, was elected in September of 2006 and re-elected in 2012 for a term that expires on January 8, 2019. Murphy was unopposed and automatically re-elected following the Nov. 6, 2012 general election. (Florida Courts image)

RELATED CONTENT: Judge, Public Defender Fight Outside of Courtroom

Below is a statement released earlier today by Chief Judge John Harris in regard to Murphy:

“As Chief Judge, I want to assure the public that yesterday’s incident involving a county court judge and an assistant public defender is not something that will ever be tolerated in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. This isolated event in no way reflects the typical manner that courtrooms in Brevard and Seminole Counties are managed by the hardworking and conscientious judges in this circuit. People come to court seeking justice and a peaceful resolution to their conflicts and they have the right to expect a much higher standard of behavior from our judges than was exhibited in court yesterday.

“All of our judges, including Judge Murphy, fully understand this and to that end, and with the fullest cooperation from Judge Murphy, I have temporarily reassigned all of his pending cases to other judges. Moreover, Judge Murphy has agreed to seek anger management counseling and treatment during a temporary leave of absence.

“As Chief Judge, I will continue to work with all of our judges to ensure that we meet our responsibilities to the public in a manner that is worthy of the trust and confidence placed in us. At this time, it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further on the incident, the leave of absence, or any future reassignment of cases.”