Gov. DeSantis-appointed trial judge faces public reprimand for shooting comment

By: Christine Sexton

Outlets: Florida Phoenix

Published: September 24, 2026

Words: 311

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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A Second Judicial Circuit judge who made “intemperate and caustic comments” and lamented that he’d like to tell his deputy “to pull his gun and shoot” a trio of attorneys is being ordered to appear before the Florida Supreme Court for a public reprimand.

Released Thursday, the Supreme Court disciplinary ruling tracks the Judicial Qualifying Commission’s recommended punishment for Judge J. Layne Smith, appointed to the bench by Gov. Ron DeSantis in …

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