FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – When the judge hugged the prosecutors after the Parkland school shooter’s sentencing hearing ended on Wednesday, some took issue with her behavior.
The hugs followed two days of testimony that without restrictions allowed the grieving victims’ families to vent. Attorney David Weinstein, a partner with Jones Walker Waechter in Miami, said Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer could have been reacting to an emotional day.
”The public defenders may now argue, based on the embraces that were observed of the prosecution team, that she may no longer be impartial,” said Weinstein, who has experience as both a county and federal prosecutor.
Related story: Defense lawyers association disapproves of judge’s treatment of Parkland school shooter’s defense
Scherer’s interaction with the defense culminated in a tense exchange with Public Defender Gordon Weekes that resulted in her ordering him to “Go sit down!” The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers asked Chief Judge Jack Tuter to address his treatment.
Related story: Video shows heated exchange between judge, Parkland shooter’s defense
After the hearing ended, Scherer also hugged the victims’ families, including Fred and Jennifer Guttenberg, the parents of 14-year-old Jaime Guttenberg, who Cruz shot in the back as she ran away from him on the third floor of the school’s 1200 building.
Fred Guttenberg demanded Weekes’s resignation over his comments in court.
Related story: Fred Guttenberg demands public defender’s resignation over remarks during hearing
Attorney David Bogenschutz, of J. David Bogenschutz & Associates in Fort Lauderdale, agreed with Weinstein and said that once a case is over, people have a tendency to let down.
“The optics of it are not real helpful,” Bogenschutz said adding, “There are some people who would be a little concerned about that.”
Bogenschutz said the judge’s decision to hug the prosecutors could create a problematic issue with perception.
“I think the defense attorneys in this county will latch onto that,” he said.
Especially for the trial’s defense team, who have sparred with the judge over the years.
“The perception is what the public defender’s office is going to work off of, and if they perceive there is a bias, then they might file a motion to recuse or disqualify the judge on every case where they represent a defendant in the courtroom,” Weinstein said.
Related story: Florida Bar investigates Parkland school shooter’s assistant public defender
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>Here is what happened on Day 1 of the sentencing hearing
>Here is what happened on Day 2 of the sentencing hearing
RELATED VIDEOS
Victim impact statements without restrictions
The family of murder victim Christopher Hixon
Debra Hixon
Natalie Hixon
Thomas Hixon
Ines Maria Hixon
The parents of murder victim Scott Biegel
Linda Biegel Schulman
Michael Schulman (Warning: Expletives)
The mother of murder victim Helena Ramsay
Anne Ramsay
The family and girlfriend of murder victim Joaquin Oliver
Patricia Padauy Oliver
Manuel Oliver
Andrea Ghersi
Victoria Gonzalez
The mother of murder victim Nicholas Dworet
Annika Dworet
The sister of murder victim Alaina Joann Petty
Meghan Petty
The father of murder victim Alexander Schachter
Max Schachter
The parents of murder victim Jaime Guttenberg
Jennifer Guttenberg
Fred Guttenberg
The father and brother of murder victim Gina Montalto
Anthony Montalto III
Anthony Montalto II
The family of murder victim Alyssa Alhadeff
Parents: Lori and Ilan Alhadeff
Grandmother: Theresa Robinovitz
Grandfather: David Robinovitz
Uncle: David Alhadeff
Grandmother: Representative reads Vicky Alhadeff’s statement
Representatives read statements of Carmen Schentrup’s parents
Mother: April Schentrup
Father: Philip Schentrup
Injured survivors and their families
Samantha Fuentes was injured in the classroom where Helena Ramsay and Nicholas Dworet died
Stacey Lippel was injured near where her colleague Scott Beigel was killed
The parents of injured survivor Benjamin Wikander: Bree and Eric Wikander
The mother of injured survivor Samantha Mayor: Ellyn Mayor
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