Broward County Courthouse at 201 SE 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL. Courtesy photo Broward County courthouse at 201 S.E. Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale. Courtesy photo

A suspended Broward Circuit judge has denied allegations made against her by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission.

Broward Circuit Judge Vegina ‘Gina’ T. Hawkins on Friday responded to formal charges by an investigative panel of the JQC before the Florida Supreme Court, which has the final word on judicial discipline. She denied the JQC’s contention she “sought out confrontation” with a Broward courthouse employee and denied she physically shook the man because she was angry her afternoon docket was not ready when she’d expected.

The ethics case against her stemmed from security footage showing the judge stepping out of her courtroom June 11 and an employee following shortly after. The video then appears to show the judge wrapping her hands around the employee’s neck and shaking him.

It’s unclear from the camera angle if the employee is smiling at the beginning of their interaction. Hawkins suggested she was joking. She testified she and the employee had a “fairly friendly” relationship and the gesture was made in jest.

The incident led to the judge’s suspension without pay July 19.

But the judge Friday denied the charge that she demonstrated “a present unfitness to serve.”

Hawkins’ legal counsel, Fort Lauderdale-based lawyer David Bogenschutz, did not immediately return requests for comment Friday.

Hawkings’ response requests the high court to hold any hearings concerning the JQC’s charges in Broward County. It said the majority of witnesses who will be called to testify on Hawkins’ behalf—including multiple subpoenaed county and circuit court judges—are based there, and it would be expensive and inconvenient for them to travel to another jurisdiction.

Broward Circuit Court spokesperson Meredith Bush did not respond to media inquiries by press time.

Hawkins was appointed as a judge in November by former Florida Gov. Rick Scott, now a U.S. senator. Before she was elevated to the bench, Hawkins worked with the Broward State Attorney’s Office.

Read the response:

 

 

Related stories:

Video Shows Broward Judge Grabbing Court Employee by Neck

Broward Judge Suspended Without Pay After Altercation With Court Employee

Here’s the Video That Could Bring Down Broward Judge Vegina Hawkins: Tape Unsealed as Jurist Suspended