Suspended judge resigns
The Judicial Qualifications Commission has dropped its case against 17th Circuit Judge Vegina Hawkins, who was suspended without pay last year after placing her hands around the neck of a court employee.
Hawkins, who has been suspended since July 19, 2019, was defeated in her reelection bid in the August 18 primary. She resigned, effective November 20, and the resignation has been received and accepted by Gov. Ron DeSantis. She had admitted she initiated a physical confrontation, but denied that she had placed her hands around the employee’s neck or shook him, although the incident was captured on a courthouse camera.
A final hearing before the JQC’s Hearing Panel had been set for December 8.
