A heartless judge who jailed a domestic violence victim for refusing to testify against her abuser now admits she was wrong.
Seminole County (Orlando) Judge Jerri Collins was drunk with power when she cruelly jailed a weeping domestic violence victim in July.
Judge Collins charged the woman with contempt of court for failing to show up to testify against her baby daddy.
“Why didn’t you show up to court?” Collins barked at the woman in open court on July 30. The judge added that a jury had been seated and ready to hear the case.
The judge hardened her heart when the sobbing woman told her she was depressed, had high anxiety and was homeless. “I had to sell everything I owned,” the single woman cried.
“You think you’re going to have anxiety now? You haven’t even seen anxiety,” said Judge Collins, who previously sentence the woman’s abuser to 16 days in jail.
“I’m not in a good place right now,” the woman cried.
But the judge was unmoved.
“…and violating a court order did not do anything for you,” said Collins. I hereby find you in contempt of court. I sentence you to three days in the county jail.”
“Judge, I’ll do anything … I have a 1-year-old son, and I’m trying to take care of him by myself. I’m begging you, please, please don’t,” the woman sobbed.
The video of the wailing woman being led out to court in handcuffs went viral when it aired on the evening news in October.
Collins was charged Wednesday by the Judicial Qualifications Commission for violating rules governing how judges conduct themselves on the bench.
Both sides agreed to a public reprimand.
