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Jackie L. Fulford
Jackie L. Fulford was a judge for the Second Circuit Court in Florida. She serves in Wakulla County.[1] She was appointed to the court by former Democratic Governor Charlie Crist on July 15, 2009, to replace retired Judge Janet E. Ferris. She ran unopposed and was retained in the August 24, 2010.[2][3][4]
In April 2015, formal charges of judicial misconduct were filed against the judge. She also went on medical leave beginning in April. Following an evaluation performed at the request of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC), it was determined that Fulford suffered from a "disability that seriously interferes with her ability to perform her judicial duties and that the disability is permanent." In August 2015, the commission recommended involuntary retirement for the judge, and she agreed to step down.[5]
Read more about Judge Fulford's misconduct charges and retirement below.
Education
Fulford received her bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University and her J.D. from the Stetson College of Law.[2]
Career
Fulford practiced law with the firm of Garrity and Fulford P.A. from 1994 to 1995 and at Morrison, Morrison and Miller P.A. from 1996 to 1998. She then served as a chief assistant state attorney for the Second Circuit Court until her appointment to that court in 2009.[2]
Noteworthy events
Formal charges filed against Fulford (2015)
On April 27, 2015, the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) filed formal charges against Fulford for using her judicial office to influence attorneys, for the appearance of impropriety caused by her close friendship with Wakulla County Sheriff David Harvey, for opposing a candidate publicly during elections, and for interjecting herself in a domestic battery case involving the son of her significant other.[6][7]
The commission found that Fulford's actions constituted a violation of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct and "taken collectively...constitute a pattern of misconduct which raises serious questions regarding [her] fitness to perform the duties of the office [she] now holds."[6]
On August 26, the JQC filed a recommendation that Fulford be retired involuntarily from the bench. Following a hearing in April, the Investigative Panel of the Commission requested that the judge undergo an evaluation to determine whether she suffered from a physical or mental disability. According to the report, the evaluation concluded that "Judge Fulford does indeed suffer from a disability that seriously interferes with her ability to perform her judicial duties and that the disability is permanent."[5] She went on medical leave since April, and agreed to step down from the bench.[8] The Florida Supreme Court formalized the commission's recommendation on September 30, 2015.[9]
Click on these links to read the Notice of Formal Charges and the Findings and Recommendation of Involuntary Retirement in full.
Elections
2010
- See also: Florida judicial elections, 2010
Fulford ran unopposed and was automatically retained to the Second Circuit Court for a new term in 2010.[3][4]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Jackie Fulford Florida judge. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- 2nd Judicial Circuit, "Judges"
- First Coast News, "State worker pays restitution $1 at a time," July 1, 2014
- Jacksonville.com, "Judge again blocks prison privatization," November 5, 2011
- Palm Beach Post, "Florida judge questions state's case for making public workers partially pay for pensions," October 26, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 2nd Judicial Circuit, "Jackie L. Fulford," accessed April 29, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 American Towns:Tallahasee, FL, "Governor Crist Appoints Jackie Lee Fulford to the Second Judicial Circuit," July 17, 2009
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 29, 2015 Scroll to 5: How are judges elected in Florida and what are their terms?
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Florida Candidate Listing for 2010 General Election" Select top "View List" button and scroll to "Circuit Judge" section
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Florida Supreme Court, "The Honorable Jackie Lee Fulford: Findings and Recommendation of Involuntary Retirement," August 26, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, "The Honorable Jackie Lee Fulford: Notice of Formal Charges," April 27, 2015
- ↑ The Tallahassee Democrat, "Judge Jackie Fulford faces misconduct charges," April 29, 2015
- ↑ WFSU.com, "Commission Orders Judge Jackie Fulford Into Involuntary Retirement," August 27, 2015
- ↑ Tallahassee Democrat, "Judge Jackie Fulford ordered to retire," September 30, 2015
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
