Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 16-496 Re: Philip James Yacucci, Jr.

Summary

The Court approved the Judicial Qualifications Commission's findings that Judge Yacucci violated multiple Canons of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct through his prolonged conflict with an attorney, public disparagement, attempts to influence related appellate proceedings, and repeated refusals to recuse. It also approved a public reprimand, a thirty-day suspension without pay, completion of a judicial ethics course, and payment of proceeding costs, with the case remanded to determine the costs. Justice Pariente, joined by Justice Quince, concurred in the violations but would have imposed a suspension of at least ninety days.