- November 4, 2024
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The Florida Supreme Court on June 25 ordered Circuit 7 Judge Scott DuPont removed from the bench. The order went into effect at 5 p.m. that day.
The case went to the Supreme Court of Florida after DuPont on April 30 filed an appeal to an earlier order by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission recommending his removal.
DuPont had been charged by the Judicial Qualifications Commission with having “abused his position and showed himself to be unfit” by, among other charges, ordering a bailiff to search a man accused of being behind on child support and to then take cash from the man’s wallet to pay it; conducting bond hearings without defendants’ counsel present; stating improperly during a televised forum that it is not the role of a circuit judge to determine the constitutionality of statutes, because that would be “legislating from the bench”; intentionally violating judicial campaign rules by spreading false information about his opponent and his opponent’s family members; and prioritizing campaigning over the lawful performance of his duties, according to a Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission document filed April 11.
