TALLAHASSEE, FL – Acknowledging repeated use of his court-issued laptop to surf porn sites while in his judicial chambers, Circuit Judge Brandt C. Downey apologized Friday after receiving a severe and public reprimand from the Florida Supreme Court.“I acknowledge that my actions were inappropriate,” Downey told the court, according to the Associated Press. “I beg everyone’s forgiveness.”
The court accepted an agreement under which Downey, a 21-year veteran of the bench, will resign at the end of his current term, rather than seek reelection. Downey’s current term expires on January 1st, 2007.
Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis was harshly critical of Downey, who admitted to making repeated use of his laptop to access porn sites from 2002 through 2005.
“I am embarrassed to sit in the middle chair this morning,” Lewis told Downey, according to the AP. “To have a judge compelled to come before this court because of the type of behavior just stipulated constitutes true tarnish.”
Lewis added that Downey’s conduct was “truly shocking,” and an embarrassment to his friends, his family, the judiciary and the citizens of Florida.
Downey told the court that he had apologized to his family and friends, and that they had forgiven him, and that he believes God has forgiven him as well.
Lewis is apparently not among those who have forgiven Downey for his transgressions; he said Downey’s behavior constituted a “dark cloud on all of us,” and characterized the court’s acceptance of the agreement as “almost a deal with the devil,” because it leaves Downey on the bench for the rest of the year.
Lewis noted that Downey continued to visit porn sites from his laptop even after he had been warned by IT personnel that the sites contained viruses that could threaten the entire courthouse system, and through Downey’s actions, other court personnel were exposed to the pornography on the laptop.
“The unacceptable behavior in which you engaged presents a picture of someone who simply does not understand the rudimentary bounds of judicial decorum or just doesn’t care,” Lewis said.
Although he admitted to the inappropriate use of his laptop, Downey denied other allegations of misconduct, including inappropriate comments he allegedly made to two female attorneys who appeared before him in court.
In one incident, Downey allegedly asked a young female state attorney to approach the bench, and then told her she “looked nice today.”
On another occasion, Downey is accused of asking a female attorney to approach the bench for a personal conversation, and then supposedly sent the woman an email that said “it was nice seeing u in court looking so pretty.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Downey must also receive counseling, may never again seek re-election or reappointment and may not do any post-retirement work as a senior judge.
Downey’s laptop use will also be restricted for the remainder of his term.
