Florida Supreme Court reprimands judge in Parkland School shooting trial
The Florida Supreme Court has reprimanded the judge involved in the Parkland High School shooting case over bias toward the prosecution.
The move was a unanimous decision from the Judicial Qualifications Commission after its review of the case that found Judge Elizabeth Scherer violated multiple rules against the shooter's public defenders.
The Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded Judge Elizabeth Scherer for showing bias during the penalty phase of Nikolas Cruz's trial. https://t.co/KjPWEAlcHe
— Court TV (@CourtTV) July 25, 2023
The concern
"The six-month trial ended with Cruz receiving a life sentence for the 2018 murder of 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after the jury could not unanimously agree that he deserved a death sentence," the Associated Press reported.
"The 15-member commission found that Scherer 'unduly chastised' lead public defender Melisa McNeill and her team, wrongly accused one Cruz attorney of threatening her child, and improperly embraced members of the prosecution in the courtroom after the trial's conclusion," it added.
The Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded Judge Elizabeth Scherer for showing bias during the penalty phase of Nikolas Cruz's trial. https://t.co/KjPWEAlcHe
— Court TV (@CourtTV) July 25, 2023
The fallout
"Scherer retired from the bench at the end of last month. The 46-year-old former prosecutor was appointed to the bench in 2012, and the Cruz case was her first capital murder trial. Broward County’s computerized system randomly assigned her Cruz’s case shortly after the shooting," Court TV reported.
"Scherer’s handling of the case drew frequent praise from the parents and spouses of the victims, who said she treated them with professionalism and kindness. But her clashes with Cruz’s attorneys and others sometimes drew criticism from legal observers," it continued.
Public scolding is in the ‘interests of justice’ for Parkland shooter’s trial judge, who hugged prosecutors and lashed out at defense lawyers in court: Panel
Parkland shooter's Judge Elizabeth Scherer faces reprimand https://t.co/Z0JTuMKkSj— Bug,Stev (@BugdenSteven) June 7, 2023
A controversial move
Some will remember Scherer as the judge who hugged prosecutors following the trial, sparking concerns for bias in the case.
Others saw the move as one of compassion, pushing back against the accusations against the judge.
The shooter was sentenced to life without parole. Scherer did not contest the panel's recommendations, accepting the reprimand.
The move adds a negative touch to the end of Scherer's strong leadership in the case that many appreciated in bringing a guilty verdict and life sentence in the case.
The decision remains far less of a concern than the tragedy itself, with the Parkland school shooting among the most tragic in the nation's history.
