Polk County judge faces suspension and public reprimand

The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to a proposed settlement in a disciplinary case that will see Polk County Judge John Flynn face a 25-day unpaid suspension and a public reprimand.

Flynn and the state Commission on Judicial Qualifications reached an agreement, known as a stipulation, in a case that stemmed from the judge’s 2022 election campaign. Flynn was accused of making statements that showed bias in favor of the agencies law enforcement.

Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling indicating the settlement said Flynn’s statements “viewed in their totality constitute “very serious” misconduct.” The statements run afoul of canons that require judicial candidates “to act in a manner consistent with the impartiality, integrity and independence of the judiciary,” the ruling said.

The court’s decision came after the justices rejected a proposed settlement in June that recommended Flynn be suspended for 30 days.

Wednesday’s decision noted that the revised discipline recommended by the commission took into account “Flynn’s immediate acceptance of responsibility, his remorse and his cooperation with the commission investigating his case.” The commission also considered Flynn’s “newness to the bench and his clean disciplinary record as a lawyer and judge,” Wednesday’s ruling said.

“We agree with the panel that these are mitigating circumstances,” said the ruling shared by Chief Justice Carlos Muniz and Justices Charles Canady, Jorge Labarga, John Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, Renatha Francis and Meredith Sasso.