Broward Judge Claudia Robinson Quits During Ethics Probe
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Judge Claudia Robinson. Photo: Melanie Bell[/caption] Broward County Court Administrative Judge Robert W. Lee will work with Judges Christopher W. Pole and Daniel J. Kanner to take over the judicial duties of departing Judge Claudia Robinson, who resigned during an ethics investigation. The other judges will step in to assure full coverage in Robinson’s courtroom at the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood, according to a notice from Broward Chief Circuit Judge Jack Tuter. They will handle Robinson’s caseload once their colleague steps down Feb. 12.Robinson resigned Thursday while facing possible suspension. The judge, who named her former campaign manager the default mediator in 245 cases after she reached the bench, admitted violating rules governing judicial ethics. She faced a 30-day suspension without pay based on the state Judicial Qualifications Commission’s findings and recommendation of discipline filed in November.Robinson acknowledged she violated judicial canons by “creating the appearance of impropriety and favoritism” in her dealings with Wilton Manors attorney and political consultant Michael Ahearn. Court records show she helped Ahearn grow a lucrative business with hundreds of cases billed at $250 and $300 per hour.The judge self-funded most of her 2014 campaign for judicial office and did not hire a campaign manager. But she relied on Ahearn, who “played a significant role” as a volunteer consultant, according to a stipulation filed in the disciplinary proceedings.The JQC ethics charges against her suggested she seemed to repay the favor once from the bench, assigning a “disproportionate number of mediations” to her political ally.“By appointing Mr. Ahearn as the default mediator in over 80 percent of her mediation orders, Judge Robinson created the appearance that the appointments were, in effect, payback for Mr. Ahearn’s services to Judge Robinson’s campaign,” according to the stipulation.Robinson denied the allegation but acknowledged her conduct created the appearance of favoritism. She insisted she had no deal with Ahearn to use her position to benefit his business and said she instead based the appointments on the quality of his work.“Judge Robinson deeply regrets her error in judgment, and has expressed sincere remorse about the damage her conduct caused to the public’s perception of the independence of the judiciary,” the stipulation states.The judge broadened the pool of mediators after a journalist broke the story, and Ahearn denied any wrongdoing.“The Florida Bar investigated these allegations against me and dismissed the bar complaint because they found no inappropriate relationship between me and the judge,” Ahearn said. “The parties to the litigation always had the option to use someone other than me. They weren’t forced to use me.” Robinson was represented in the ethics case by Fort Lauderdale Mayor John Seiler of Seiler, Sautter, Zaden, Rimes & Wahlbrink.
