In re Sheldon Schapiro

Judge Sheldon Schapiro (defendant) repeatedly berated attorneys for speaking in his courtroom even when quietly discussing court business, ordered an attorney with a severe medical condition on bedrest to appear for a criminal trial and a hospitalized, pregnancy-complicated attorney to appear against her doctor's orders, cursed at attorneys, and told a female attorney she should behave more like unemotional male attorneys; Schapiro also chastised an attorney for speaking and ordered him from the courtroom. The Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) found Schapiro violated Florida's Code of Judicial Conduct (Code) and recommended public reprimand, sensitivity training, and public apology; Schapiro stipulated to his inappropriate conduct, and the Florida Supreme Court reviewed the recommendation.