JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville circuit judge accused of making racist and sexist remarks has responded to an amended notice of formal charges filed against him by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission.
Judge Mark Hulsey, who was re-elected to another term on the 4th Judicial Circuit bench, winning in a recount, began the process Wednesday of answering to the complaints by sending a letter to the Commission denying all allegations.
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Hulsey also asked for an investigation into the source of leaks of the probe prior to charges being filed.
Hulsey was removed from the criminal bench in July after being accused of making racist and sexist remarks, acting in a demeaning and condescending manner toward his staff and being unnecessarily critical of lawyers in the state attorney’s office.
The amended filing by the Commission informs Hulsey that because of “indifference to your judicial duties,” staff attorneys are wasting their time on “routine and mundane judicial acts,” thus limiting their availability to other judges.
The Commission also says Hulsey forced staff to take care of his personal affairs and to take work home. The complaint accuses Hulsey of trying to coerce one of his staffers into telling the Commission that he would never make derogatory remarks about African Americans or women.
A hearing on the charges had been scheduled for February, but was recently postponed until May.