A state panel has recommended suspension for a Broward County judge who was caught on video grabbing a court employee by the neck and shaking him.
The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended the penalty for Judge Vegina "Gina" T. Hawkins on Friday.
The incident, which happened about 10:30 a.m. June 11, began when Hawking found out the papers for her 2 p.m. docket were not on her desk yet, the commission said.
Hawkins sought out the employee, who was working in another courtroom. She called for the employee to come into the hallway, and when he passed through the door, she grabbed his neck and shook him, the video showed.
The video then shows the two having a brief discussion before she reaches out and grabs him.
After the video came to light, Hawkins and her attorney provided a statement to the commission saying the incident was in "jest" and that she and the employee were "fairly friendly." She said apologized for the incident but said she never touched him.
The commission said it was not only concerned by Hawkins' actions, but also by her statement that she never touched the employee when the video showed otherwise.
The panel is calling for Hawkins to be suspended without pay until the investigation into the incident is done.
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