Supreme Court of Florida
Inquiry Concerning a Judge, No. 07-64 Re Ralph E. Eriksson.
February 11, 201035 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 111
Summary
The Supreme Court of Florida approved the Judicial Qualifications Commission's findings that Judge Ralph E. Eriksson violated the Code of Judicial Conduct by retaliating against a defendant who sought recusal and by conducting domestic-violence-injunction proceedings in an unduly rigid manner. The Court held that judicial independence did not bar the investigation, that the Hearing Panel could consider the judge's investigative-stage testimony, and that the misconduct was established by clear and convincing evidence. The Court ordered a public reprimand and payment of proceeding costs.