The Florida Supreme Court reprimanded four judges because they allegedly endorsed a nonprofit group that was competing for a $500 million foster child services contract with the State Department of Children and Families.
Judges Marcia Caballero, Rosa Figarola, Teresa Pooler, Mavel Ruiz and retired judge Cindy Lederman wrote a letter in support of one of two bidders, according to media reports and, in doing so, the Miami judges violated requirements that they remain unbiased in their conduct, according to media reports.
"Judges are human and sometimes allow their personal views to interfere with their professional judgment,” said attorney Ron Meyer. “Here, the judges appeared wanting only to offer input regarding their positive experience with the current vendor who was one of the bidders. There was no allegation or finding that any of the Judges stood to personally gain by their commentary on behalf of the vendor.”
As previously reported, the letter, addressed to the Florida Department of Children and Families, referred to the nonprofit group Our Kids, which did not land the five-year contract.
Instead, it was the Citrus Family Health Network that won the bidding process, which had reportedly been trying to replace Our Kids.
"The bidding process was concluded without problem and without any apparent influence from the Judges’ letter," Meyer said.
The Florida Department of Children and Families did not respond to the Florida Record’s request for comment.
“The judges all enjoyed previously unblemished records so the Court did not believe removal, suspension or a public reprimand requiring an appearance before the Court was warranted,” Meyer said in an interview.
However, the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) did recommend a written reprimand and the Florida Supreme Court accepted the recommendation.
“A written reprimand is a sanction which no Judge wants to have on his or her record,” Meyer said. “The issuance and publication of the written reprimand ends the process.”