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Appellate Judge Denies Critique Of Peer Broke Law

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 10, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - An appellate judge took the witness stand Monday to deny unprecedented ethics charges over his criticism of a colleague in an opinion that used colorful language and cited newspaper articles about political wheeling and dealing.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission has accused 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Michael Allen of undermining public confidence in the integrity of the courts, failing to follow the law and other violations of judicial canons.

Allen also allegedly lied under oath by telling commission investigators he had no animosity toward the other judge, Charles Kahn. He repeated that testimony Monday but acknowledged he has little respect for Kahn, accusing him of throwing temper tantrums and using foul language.

The allegations against Allen stem from a concurring opinion in former state Senate President W.D. Childers' bribery case. The appellate court upheld Childers' conviction, which stemmed from a land deal while he was an Escambia County commissioner.

The Associated Press

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