Judge accused, then given more authority
Fair Courts E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Source: St. Petersburg Times
Date: 7/8/2006
Article reports that Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Brandt Downey was appointed to a civil county court appellate panel one week after being questioned by the Florida Supreme Court about allegations of pornography and sexual harassment. Chief Judge David Demers defended his choice, stating that the appointment seemed _essentially disconnected from anything having to do with his recent difficulties._ However, other judges have expressed concern over the appointment, particularly given that Downey will be publicly reprimanded by the state_s Supreme Court in September and will be required to retire at the end of the year. As a criminal judge in Pinellas-Pasco County, Downey was reversed in 72 cases between 2000 and 2005, more than any other Pinellas criminal judge. One local public defenders felt this record of reversal made Downey an unusual candidate for the panel: _I think with the number of judges that we have, other choices were clearly available to get more confidence in the judiciary._