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Judge faces discipline for remarks to women

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A judge who told a woman to close her legs and stop having babies and ordered another defendant to attend church as a condition of probation could be disciplined by the Florida Supreme Court.

The actions were among a list of incidents of allegedly inappropriate behavior by Circuit Judge Richard Albritton that the state Judicial Qualifications Commission reported to the court this week.

The JQC alleged that Albritton humiliated females in his courtroom. He told an 18-year-old woman how attractive she was before giving her a lighter sentence than he would normally hand out. He often told women, including attorneys, "Women should be at home with their kids," the charges said.

A Department of Children and Families attorney who is black said Albritton told her, "Your people helped me get elected."

Albritton's attorney, Harry Harper, said the judge has no gender or race bias. He called the charges "mystifying."

The Supreme Court will appoint a judge to oversee the case, said Tampa attorney David Knight, who prepared the charges for the JQC.

Albritton was elected in 2000.

[Last modified May 21, 2005, 01:02:05]