The Florida Supreme Court removed a judge from office Thursday for telling a public defender “I’ll just beat your ass” before making good on the threat and continuing court proceedings without defense counsel.

A judicial discipline panel previously recommended a fine and suspension without pay for elected Brevard County Judge John Murphy, but justices rejected the suggestion.

“Judge Murphy’s grievous misconduct became a national spectacle and an embarrassment to Florida’s judicial system,” the court ruled. “We conclude that, through his misconduct, Judge Murphy surrendered his privilege to serve in our court system.”

The moments responsible for Murphy’s downfall unfolded in June 2014 and were recorded on camera, with the judge growing increasingly angry as public defender Andrew Weinstock refused to waive a client’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.



“You know if I had a rock, I would throw it at you right now. Stop pissing me off. Just sit down,” the judge said. “I said sit down. If you want to fight, let’s go out back and I’ll just beat your ass.”

The two men walked to a hallway and loud smacking noises are heard on the court video recording as a man shrieks: “You want to f-ck with me? Do you?” Witnesses identified the judge as the speaker. Shocked court-goers gasped, and one person whispered to another to “get some help.”

The judge returned to his seat and continued with the day’s docket, dealing with matters in eight cases in which the defendants had no attorney.

Weinstock maintained through his boss, Blaise Trettis, who gave media interviews after the incident, that he expected a conversation, not a physical confrontation, when he followed Murphy into the hallway, but was instead surprised by a grabby, fist-flinging judge.



Weinstock, who resigned his job when Murphy returned to the bench in July 2014 after anger-management counseling, declined to discuss the judge's removal.

“No, thank you,” he said before hanging up his phone Friday.

Murphy, an Afghanistan War veteran who had been re-elected in 2012 to a second six-year term, attributed the incident to post-traumatic stress disorder, the Florida Supreme Court decision indicates.

Though the state's highest court gave Murphy the boot, many others were more forgiving. Trettis supported his return to the bench, and local law enforcement chose not to bring assault charges when Weinstock – then still employed at the public defender's office – refused to provide them a statement. (Read the police report here.)





John Galluzzo, chief judge of Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit Court, praised his forcibly retired colleague in a statement.

“At this time, I would like to wish Judge Murphy success in his future endeavors,” he said. “As a county court judge he worked tirelessly and served our courts with distinction before and after that unfortunate day. We will remember him for the countless positive contributions he made during his years on the bench and he will be missed.”