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The Florida Supreme Court has commanded that a county judge appear for the administration of a public reprimand.

 This action stems from charges filed against Judge Flood arising out of an inappropriate relationship with her bailiff, over whom she exercised supervisory authority. The JQC’s Notice of Formal Charges filed against Judge Flood recognized that a judge exercises “supervisory control” over her bailiff and alleged that Judge Flood had a “friendship” with her bailiff that became so close that it created an “appearance of impropriety.”

The court concluded

 We agree that Judge Flood’s conduct in having an “inappropriate relationship” with her bailiff, over whom she exercised supervisory authority, was clearly unacceptable. While we have not been provided with the details of this “inappropriate relationship,” we accept the characterization by the JQC and Judge Flood’s own stipulation that this relationship went beyond the “fraternization that normally occurs in a professional workplace.” We agree that such improper conduct in the workplace is of greater concern when engaged in by judges, who are held to the high standards of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

 We recognize, however, that in this case the misconduct was an isolated incident in an otherwise exemplary career as a judge. Judge Flood has admitted her wrongdoing, in particular that “her actions have the effect of lessening the public’s confidence in the judiciary,” and she has vowed that such misconduct will not be repeated.

Reprimand to be administered at a date and time to be determined.

For those with a taste for the possible details (with a nod to George Costanza), the Daily Ridge had this post.

The bailiff is known as Bubba.

And from Law360 there was this report on the charges

Judge Flood admitted to investigators that she kissed Maxcy at the courthouse, texted him that she loved him, loaned him $5,000, prepared his tax estimations and his divorce papers for him in her office and gave him advice on a pending civil lawsuit of which he was a party, according to the report.

   (Mike Frisch)