Judge who loses temper in court uses PTSD as an excuse. [View all]

[Baitball Blogger]

Hard for me to take sides on this issue. Obviously, the initial reaction is to side on the side of empathy. Man served his country so we should look the other way. Unfortunately, living in Florida, I have seen community leaders use their military service all too often to explain abuses in power. There is no question that too many use this as a chit to get something they feel they are owed.

I don't know how one goes around finding a solution to a problem that is all too large in a state that has such a large retired military community. We are at a cross roads where we are expecting leaders to put other people's interests ahead of their own, and this is just not what we're experiencing in Florida. If they do have military service, shouldn't we expect them to set the example?

Florida judge in outburst case offers PTSD defense

A suspended Central Florida judge whose courtroom outburst caught national attention is defending himself in a new documents to the Florida Supreme Court.

The state's high court is weighing a punishment for Brevard County Judge John C. Murphy, who recently disclosed he suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome — even though his legal team and an expert previously said he doesn't have PTSD.

Murphy said he developed the condition from military service in Afghanistan.

"It is shameful to suggest that a man who served his country in the military should now be prevented from serving as a judge because of his combat 'injury,' as the special counsel does here, even though he served with distinction in both war and on the bench," a document from Murphy's attorney says.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-judge-john-c-murphy-defense-ptsd-20151202-story.html