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

Filed 2h ago · Via Florida Phoenix · The Buffoon Desk

THIS STORY IS SCORED

Maple Leaf Rag

Kevin MacLeod · incompetech.com · CC BY 4.0

Photo: Harry Pot for Anefo · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Florida's Supreme Court ordered Judge J. Layne Smith of the Second Judicial Circuit to appear for a public reprimand after he told attorneys during a September 2025 hearing, 'I would like to tell the deputy to pull his gun and shoot all three of you as far as my level of frustration right now,' adding he didn't actually want that to happen. He also referred to the attorneys as the 'Keystone Cops' and the 'Apple Dumpling Gang.'

Smith, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2020, recused himself from the case about a week later and self-reported his conduct in October, issuing a public apology and stepping back from related cases. The Supreme Court's disciplinary ruling adopted the Judicial Qualifying Commission's recommended punishment, calling his conduct 'far below the standard of professionalism' owed to those appearing in his courtroom.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.

✒ FROM THE EDITORIAL DESK

A judge floating gun violence as a stress-relief fantasy and getting a public scolding for it tells you something about how high the bar is set for people in robes. Credit where it's due, he turned himself in and apologized, which counts for more than most get around to. Still, if a school bus driver said that about three kids in the back seat, nobody would be debating whether a stern letter covers it.

Source: Read the original at Florida Phoenix → Scored: Maple Leaf Rag · Kevin MacLeod · CC BY 4.0

Read it scored.

Every story, every clown, every kazoo — in your pocket. Music plays automatically. Regret is optional.

GET IT ON iOS GET IT ON ANDROID

OR FOLLOW THE DESK ON BLUESKY →