Judge removed after fight with public defender

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Judge removed after fight with public defender
A judge in Brevard County Florida has been removed from the bench, at least temporarily, after getting into a physical fight with a public defender.

FLORIDA (KGO) -- A judge in Brevard County, Florida has been removed from the bench, at least temporarily, after getting into a physical fight with a public defender - and part of it was caught on camera.

"You know if I had a rock I would throw it at you right now. Stop pissing me off. Just sit down. I'll take care of it. I don't need your help. Sit down," Judge John Murphy can be heard saying in the courtroom.

"You know what? I'm the public defender. I have a right to be here and I have a right to stand and represent my clients," attorney Andrew Weinstock says in reply.

"I said sit down. If you want to fight, let's go out back and I'll just beat your ass," the judge responds.

"Let's go," Weinstock says.

The video shows Weinstock leaving the courtroom followed off-camera by Judge Murphy. The two went into a hallway and punches were thrown.

According to Weinstock, once they got in the hallway, the judge grabbed him by the collar and began punching him in the head. Bailiffs pulled the two apart.

So far, no criminal charges have been filed by either side.