DCF fires attorney over past sex allegations

The man, a former judge, was accused of "predatory sexual misconduct" in Michigan.

©Associated Press
January 17, 2003

WEST PALM BEACH -- Florida's child welfare agency fired an attorney this week after learning he was accused of using his position as a Michigan judge to solicit sex 21/2 years ago.

The Department of Children and Families hired James "Skip" Scandirito in June 2000 as a senior attorney representing caseworkers and abused children, but didn't know what precipitated his resignation as district judge in Macomb County, Mich., six months earlier.

DCF spokesman Bob Brooks said he could not explain how the agency missed the incident when it checked Scandirito's criminal background and references.

At the time, DCF was under pressure to hire more than a dozen lawyers for its child welfare legal services division in Palm Beach County. The county's State Attorney's Office was giving up its contract with the child welfare agency.

In his job application, Scandirito wrote that he had 20 years' experience as a trial attorney and had handled hundreds of juvenile court cases, was a member of the Florida Bar and had been a Florida family law mediator. Asked on the application form his reason for leaving his position as a trial court judge, Scandirito, 59, wrote: "Retired to Florida." He did not mention the allegations of sexual impropriety or a pending challenge to his Michigan law license.

Scandirito is appealing Michigan's decision to revoke his law license for "predatory sexual misconduct." The notice of revocation, issued in August, states: "The hearing panel found, by default, that respondent used his position as a judge to coerce one woman into a secret sexual relationship and attempted to coerce another woman into a similar relationship."

DCF fired Scandirito on Monday, giving no reason.

Scandirito said Thursday he doesn't agree with the Michigan allegations and is contesting the decision to revoke his law license.

"There were a couple of allegations. And instead of fighting it, I moved to Florida," he said. "There's never been a hearing on the merits (of the allegations). We dispute it. There's some truth, but much of it is not."

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