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Renke fails in bid to halt new charges

A panel got the go-ahead to proceed against the judge over new election law allegations.

By COLLEEN JENKINS
Published March 16, 2005

The Judicial Qualifications Commission on Tuesday gave the special counsel hired to prosecute Circuit Judge John Renke III the green light to proceed on new charges filed against the judge last month.

The news came as a disappointment to Renke's attorney, who previously argued that the JQC had unfairly tarnished the judge's reputation by making public new accusations without first giving Renke a chance to defend himself.

The most potentially damaging allegation concerned $95,800 that Renke said was a personal loan to his 2002 campaign. The JQC contended the money instead was an illegal contribution from the judge's father, John Renke II, or the elder Renke's New Port Richey law firm.

Scott Tozian, Renke III's attorney, countered that the judge earned the money while working as an attorney in his father's firm and questioned the JQC's motives for adding the charges.

James R. Wolf, chairman of the JQC's hearing panel, rejected Tozian's argument in a brief order Tuesday. Wolf said the commission "sufficiently encompassed the subject matter" of the proposed new charges when it initially informed Renke III in early 2003 that the JQC was investigating a slew of possible ethics violations committed during his campaign.

Thus, Wolf said, no additional hearing is needed to determine whether the additional charges should stick.

Tozian wasn't pleased by the ruling.

"I didn't think it was a very in-depth analysis of what we put in our motion," he said.

Now certain of the 10 charges against his client - which include allegations of Renke III misrepresenting his experience and his campaign endorsements - Tozian must look ahead to the fight for his client to keep his job.

He made a motion Tuesday seeking a continuance on an April 8 hearing, at which the JQC will consider whether to recommend to the Florida Supreme Court that Renke III be suspended without pay prior to the resolution of the charges against him.

The judge, Tozian said in his motion, "needs time to discover the basis of the JQC's suspicions and gather evidence to refute (the campaign financing) allegation."

Reached Tuesday evening, Tozian said he remained mystified as to how the JQC expects to make its case against Renke III. The commission has not asked the judge or his father for any documents related to Renke III's legal salary, Tozian said.

"I have no inkling as to how they intend to go about proving the new charges," he said.

Colleen Jenkins covers courts in west Pasco County. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6236 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6236. Her e-mail address is cjenkins@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 16, 2005, 01:33:12]