A chronology

A timeline of coverage by the Times following Charles Cope from his election to the Pinellas-Pasco circuit bench through his resignation yesterday.

Judge Cope resigns Main story Click here

Nov. 3, 1992: Charles W. Cope elected to the Pinellas-Pasco circuit bench in a run-off election.

June 24, 1996: Cope is arrested for DUI by a Naples police officer who said he saw Cope's Ford Bronco weaving. Cope, in Naples attending a judicial conference, refused a Breathalyzer test.

• Circuit judge arrested on a DUI charge

Feb. 6, 1997: A Collier County judge dismisses the misdemeanor charge Cope faces after quashing all evidence in the case because of doubts cast on the accuracy of the arresting officer's testimony.

• Evidence against judge thrown out
• DUI charge against judge is dismissed

April 5, 2001: Cope is arrested by Carmel, Calif., police after two women accuse him of trying to enter their locked hotel room. Cope, in town attending a judicial conference, denied doing so.

July 12, 2001: News of Cope's arrest breaks, stunning his peers. Cope reports the allegations to the Judicial Qualifications Commission for the first time.

• Judge's arrest stuns peers
• Accused judge meets with boss
• Pinellas judge is offered a plea deal
• Accused judge ponders plea deal

Aug. 13, 2001: Cope begins a paid leave of absence.

• Accused judge takes leave of absence
• Facing charges, judge enters rehab program
• Deal collapses; charges added against judge

Dec. 7, 2001: The JQC charges Cope with violating judicial canons.

• Agency files charges against judge
• Details of judge's misadventures are revealed
• Judge's case has lawyers sparring
• Judge says he didn't try to 'hide' his arrest
• Judge tries to get charges dropped
• Report casts doubt on judge's rehab program

June 26, 2002: After a trial, a JQC panel finds Cope is guilty of public intoxication and inappropriate conduct of an intimate nature. It rejects four more serious charges, including allegations he stole a room key and tried to enter the hotel room.

• Judge recalls worry for colleague in pain

Aug. 5, 2002: A JQC panel recommends that the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimand Cope for violations of judicial canons.

• Public reprimand recommended for Cope
• Reprimand alone unlikely to keep judge off the job

Aug. 12, 2002 : Cope returns to the bench after a one-year paid leave of absence.

• Judge in ethics case is back on the bench

Aug. 29, 2002 : Cope pleaded no contest to misdemeanor public intoxication to resolve his California criminal case. In a plea deal, prosecutors dismiss other charges against him. Cope is fined $1,000 and donates $5,000 to a charity of the victim's selection.

• Cope plea deal: fine, donation

May 29, 2003: The Florida Supreme Court accepts the recommendation of the JQC panel and says Cope will be publicly reprimanded.

• Court backs reprimand for judge
• Judge out of court for 10 weeks, calendar shows

Aug. 28, 2003: Cope is reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court.

• Justice lambastes, warns Cope
• Judge, tribunal both claim a win
• Censured judge sues accusers

Jan. 26, 2004: Cope is unexpectedly summoned out of a trial and never returns.

Jan. 27, 2004: Cope resigns from the Pinellas-Pasco circuit bench.

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