A Seminole County judge will be publicly reprimanded for criticizing a domestic violence victim who opted not to testify against her alleged attacker.Seminole County Judge Jerri Collins and the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission reached a plea agreement of a public reprimand for her actions after charges were formally made Wednesday with the Florida Supreme Court.The commission said Collins has accepted responsibility for her behavior and is mindful that while her actions may have been lawful, the manner in which she carried out her judicial duties placed the judiciary in a negative light.During a contempt of court hearing on July 30, Collins asked a crying domestic violence victim to explain why she failed to show up at a hearing. The woman apologized, saying she had been “dealing with depression” and anxiety since the abuse incident.“Violating the court order did not do anything for you. I hereby find you in contempt of court. I sentence you to three days in the county jail,” Collins said."You think you’re going to have anxiety now? You haven't even seen anxiety,” Collins said to the woman. Alex Williams, the commission's assistant general counsel, says the Supreme Court will now decide whether it will accept or reject the agreement. If the Supreme Court accepts the recommendation, Collins will have to appear before the state's top court in Tallahassee to be formally reprimanded.

A Seminole County judge will be publicly reprimanded for criticizing a domestic violence victim who opted not to testify against her alleged attacker.

Seminole County Judge Jerri Collins and the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission reached a plea agreement of a public reprimand for her actions after charges were formally made Wednesday with the Florida Supreme Court.



The commission said Collins has accepted responsibility for her behavior and is mindful that while her actions may have been lawful, the manner in which she carried out her judicial duties placed the judiciary in a negative light.


During a contempt of court hearing on July 30, Collins asked a crying domestic violence victim to explain why she failed to show up at a hearing. The woman apologized, saying she had been “dealing with depression” and anxiety since the abuse incident.

“Violating the court order did not do anything for you. I hereby find you in contempt of court. I sentence you to three days in the county jail,” Collins said.

"You think you’re going to have anxiety now? You haven't even seen anxiety,” Collins said to the woman.

Alex Williams, the commission's assistant general counsel, says the Supreme Court will now decide whether it will accept or reject the agreement. If the Supreme Court accepts the recommendation, Collins will have to appear before the state's top court in Tallahassee to be formally reprimanded.