Our Terms & Conditions | Our Privacy Policy
Florida judge wearing $800 Chanel earrings dramatically resigns from bench after ‘abusing victims in courtroom’
A Florida judge accused of abusing her power and mistreating victims in her courtroom has resigned from the bench.
Putnam County Judge Anne Marie Gennusa submitted her resignation on October 3, effective October 31, in a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, who appointed her to the position in 2023.
The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) found probable cause that Gennusa violated multiple judicial canons, including those requiring judges to uphold the law, maintain impartiality, and treat people with dignity and courtesy.
According to the JQC’s notice of formal charges, Gennusa exhibited a ‘pattern of abusing [her] contempt authority’ by overstepping her power and improperly detaining people during court proceedings.
In one case, she ordered a female victim handcuffed, and in another, she jailed a mother of already-traumatized children.
‘Your unwillingness or inability to govern yourself with the dignity, courtesy and patience required by the Code, as well as your casual and illegal use of your contempt power… raise serious questions about your fitness to serve as a judicial officer,’ the JQC wrote in a document signed by Assistant General Counsel Hugh R. Brown.
Gennusa – who posed in her formal headshot wearing $800 pearl Chanel earrings – presided over misdemeanor criminal and criminal traffic cases at the Putnam County Courthouse in Palatka, part of Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, which also covers Volusia, Flagler, and St. Johns counties.
In her resignation letter, Gennusa thanked DeSantis for his trust but said she was leaving to return to private practice – where she spent nearly three decades before joining the bench.
Judge Anne Marie Gennusa, who previously drew attention for wearing $800 Chanel earrings in court, has resigned amid allegations she abused her authority
Gennusa presided over misdemeanor criminal and criminal traffic cases at the Putnam County Courthouse in Palatka, part of Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, which also covers Volusia, Flagler, and St. Johns counties
‘Serving as a judge in Putnam County is an honor. I appreciate your trust in appointing me to this seat,’ she wrote.
‘The last two and a half years have revealed to me that my true professional love is practicing law. I miss helping people navigate a complicated legal system, being there for them during difficult times and providing pro-bono representation to those who need it.’
She added: ‘This decision was not an easy one. It is however, the right one for myself and my family.’
Gennusa said she plans to open a new law firm – the Family, Estate & Mediation Law Group – with offices in Palatka and St. Augustine.
In her response to the commission, Gennusa acknowledged mistakes and blamed some of her conduct on inexperience.
She said she ordered a woman – described as the victim in one case – ‘taken into custody to calm her’, noting the detention lasted less than three hours and that the individuals involved were ‘not in handcuffs the entire time.’
She admitted she ‘would have done some things differently’ but insisted she has since ‘learned a great deal at Judicial College and made improvements.’
Governor DeSantis will appoint her replacement through the state’s judicial nominating process.
Share or comment on this article:
Florida judge wearing $800 Chanel earrings dramatically resigns from bench after ‘abusing victims in courtroom’
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.
Aggregated From –
Comments are closed.