Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 19-409 Re: Barbara Kaye Hobbs

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida approved most of the Judicial Qualifications Commission Hearing Panel's findings concerning Judge Barbara Kaye Hobbs but found an additional violation based on her failure to supervise her judicial assistant, whose conduct allowed her son to access restricted courthouse areas. The Court declined to remove Judge Hobbs but held that the recommended discipline was insufficient and added a $30,000 fine to the sixty-day unpaid suspension, public reprimand, and employee-management program. The Court also rejected several other alleged violations because the evidence did not satisfy the clear-and-convincing standard.