Public Reprimand For Judge Who Shamed Domestic Violence Victim

A Florida judge will be publicly reprimanded because she berated a victim of domestic abuse in court. The Florida Supreme Court this month upheld the sanctions against Seminole County judge Jerri Collins, who berated the victim after she failed to appear in court for a subpoena. Collins told the victim, who had no lawyer present and who claimed to be suffering from depression and severe anxiety, “You think you’re going to have anxiety now? You haven’t even seen anxiety.” The victim spent three days in jail for failing to appear in court, but Collins admitted before a judicial panel hearing earlier this year that she should have had more patience.