Judge Jackie Fulford of Crawfordville, FL; ethical gremlin

The state of Florida presented Jackie Lee Fulford with a law license after she graduated from Stetson University Law School.

In 2009, former Gov. Charlie Crist was duped into appointing Jackie as a Circuit Court judge. Jackie didn’t receive the appointment because she was the most qualified attorney in the Tallahassee area. She received it because she had proven to be a reliable lackey for the local political hacks.

The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission has charged Judge Fulford with the following misconduct 

In one matter, Judge Fulford violated the rules by engaging political activity regarding an election of her close friend, Sheriff David Harvey.

Leading up to Sheriff Harvey’s election for sheriff against Charlie Creel, Judge Fulford’s deputy bailiff said he did not support Harvey. This decision led to Judge Fulford saying, “anyone who votes for Charlie Creel will not work for me.” Shortly thereafter, Fulford ordered that the man be fired as bailiff, and relieved of duties at the sheriff’s office.

Fulford also kept a life-sized cutout of Harvey in her chambers that was visible to anyone entering and that was also visible to people seated in the courtroom.

In another matter, Try Young, the son of Fulford’s boyfriend with whom she lived with, was charged with domestic battery. Shortly after the arrest, Fulford contacted the prosecutor who was previously her subordinate. Fulford then personally intervened to have the charges against Mr. Young dismissed. Making matters worse is the fact that Fulford personally drafted a deferred prosecution agreement, which she then submitted to the prosecutor for approval.

All that remains now is to see what punishment the enablers sitting on the Supreme Court of Florida mete out regarding Fulford’s egregious misconduct.

As we speak (ca. May 2015), Judge Fulford remains sitting as a Circuit Court judge in Tallahassee, Florida.