Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee, Florida. Photo: Raychel Lean/ALM.

The Florida Supreme Court accepted a recommendation from the Judicial Qualifications Commission Thursday to publicly reprimand Brevard Circuit Judge Robin C. Lemonidis over her perceived bias against defendants in two felony criminal cases.

When a defense attorney in one trial, State v. Skyler Francis, failed to address participants by their surnames, Lemonidis's facial expressions, tone and demeanor toward the attorney and his client grew adversarial. Lemonidis "repeatedly and loudly struck her gavel" while admonishing the defense on at least five separate occasions, according to Thursday's ruling.

"Judge Lemonidis behaved similarly in her interactions with witnesses and others involved in the proceedings, 'at times appearing openly annoyed … by the person she was addressing,'" the ruling said.

The high court expressed concern about how the judge's behavior affected jurors.

"Like the JQC, we are particularly concerned by 'Judge Lemonidis's failure to exercise self control' during the Francis trial after she was informed that a juror had commented on her perceived dislike of defense counsel," the per curiam ruling said.

In the second case, State v. Anthony Welch, the defendant was facing the death penalty in a retrial of the penalty phase, after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. After listening to impact statements from victims' family members, Lemonidis told the defendant she "cannot disagree with a single thing" one person said, and that the speakers were "far more gracious soul[s] than a person like you deserves."

Florida Supreme Court justices found Lemonidis then compromised the integrity of the judiciary by voicing a desire to see the defendant fight for his life or die in prison.

"And that is something you're going to get to ponder for the rest of your miserable life. There is a Chinese proverb, do good, reap good, do evil, reap evil—which section will you sit in, sir? There's no doubt in my mind. And I tend to agree that the outcome might have been different had this been three years ago,"Lemonidis said, according to Thursday's ruling. "I hope you see the [victim's] faces on every single face you see. … The collateral damage that you have caused, sir, is immeasurable and your life is not worthy of what you have done to these people. I do hope you do fight for your life every minute of every day. And that would be the only reason that I would hope your life is any longer than six weeks."

The JQC found that was a violation of Judicial Canons 1, 2A, 3B(4) and 3B(5), which govern integrity and independence of the judiciary, the appearance of impropriety and adjudicative responsibilities.

"As observed by the JQC, 'it is essential' that judges refrain from 'degrad[ing] the solemnity of proceedings by casting insults and abuse upon litigants,' " the ruling said.

Lemonidis reached a stipulation with the JQC in August, agreeing to the reprimand and stress management counseling. The judge did not contest the JQC's findings and has admitted her conduct was inappropriate and intemperate.

Lemonidis and her attorney Warren Lindsey of Lindsey & Ferry in Winter Park did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

JQC General Counsel Alexander Williams and Palm Beach Circuit Judge Krista Marx brought the case for the JQC.

The reprimand is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2020.

Read the ruling:

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