Formal charges have been filed against Circuit Judge John E. Jordan III by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission for alleged violations of judicial canons. These charges stem from two incidents in 2025, including a racially insensitive comment made during a plea hearing, which the judge later acknowledged was ill-considered due to its connection to historical demeaning stereotypes. Additionally, Jordan faces allegations of unprofessional conduct for repeatedly telling public defenders to “shut up” during a trial, behavior deemed not patient, dignified, or courteous. The commission has recommended a public reprimand to the state supreme court.
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Following a dramatic public hearing, a special House Ethics subcommittee found Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of 25 ethics charges related to allegations of stealing millions in federal relief funds and diverting them to her campaign. The congresswoman, who denies wrongdoing and faces a separate federal criminal case, could be subject to sanctions ranging from censure to expulsion. This decision follows a three-year investigation and a lengthy deliberation by the Ethics panel, setting the stage for potential removal from Congress, drawing parallels to the expulsion of Rep. George Santos.
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The Justice Department’s pardon attorney, Ed Martin, is now facing ethics charges, a development that has sparked considerable discussion. The Washington D.C. Bar has initiated disciplinary proceedings against him, stemming from allegations that he improperly threatened to withhold federal funding from Georgetown University’s law school. Furthermore, he is accused of attempting to impede an investigation into his own conduct. This situation brings to mind past instances, though perhaps less frequent, where similar ethical quandaries have arisen within administrations.
There’s a sentiment that for those aligned with a particular political faction, facing an ethics complaint might be viewed as a badge of honor rather than a cause for concern.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood