Inquiry Concerning a Judge, No. 04-249, re Woodard

Article V, section 12 of the Florida Constitution vests this Court with the authority to determine, based upon the recommendation of the Judicial, Qualifications Commission (JQC), whether a judge has committed acts of misconduct and whether that misconduct justifies a disciplinary sanction. This responsibility is essential to the integrity of the justice system. In this case, we review the joint stipulation of the Investigative Panel of the JQC and Circuit Court Judge W. Wayne Woodard that Judge Woodard violated provisions of the ethics rules governing judges in this state. We also review the…