A Broward County circuit judge will receive a public reprimand from the Florida Supreme Court in a disciplinary case that stemmed from an email sent to a public defender.
The Supreme Court last week unanimously approved recommendations from the state Judicial Qualifications Commission, which investigated the actions of Circuit Judge John Contini.
Along with requiring a public reprimand, the Supreme Court also directed Contini to continue a judicial-mentoring program and complete a stress-management program.
The series of events started with a March 2015 email sent by Contini to an assistant public defender and later disclosed to prosecutors.
The email, which included suggestions for the use of a proposed order, led prosecutors to seek to disqualify Contini from pending criminal cases.
The issue went to the 4th District Court of Appeal.
An investigative panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission said Contini took the matter “very personally” and made disparaging comments about prosecutors.
The Supreme Court order said Contini acknowledged violating the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct, accepted full responsibility and expressed remorse.
“Judge Contini was new to the bench, sending the ex parte email during his first day of Judicial College,” the order said. “The fact that he distributed the order to the state (prosecutors) within a week suggests that his ex parte communication was not intentionally prejudicial.”