$50K fine, suspension recommended for 'I'll beat your ass' judge

The Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended that Brevard County Judge John Murphy be suspended without pay for 120 days and fined $50,000, news partner WFTV learned Wednesday.

The panel also said Murphy should continue participating in a mental health therapy program until he is successfully discharged.

The recommendation stems from an outburst in Murphy's courtroom last year that ended in a confrontation with a public defender.

Murphy is accused of punching a former assistant public defender, a charge that he denies.

A panel heard from the judge's psychologist who described what happened in Murphy's courtroom last June 2 as a "perfect storm."

The incident began with an angry exchange in the courtroom after a question about a waiver of speedy trial, then escalated after Murphy called former assistant public defender Andrew Weinstock into a hallway.

"If you want to fight, let's go out back and I'll just beat your ass," Murphy told Weinstock in video from the courtroom.

Weinstock said that's where Murphy punched him, but Murphy said he only grabbed the attorney by the shoulders after he was shoved in the chest.