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Prosecution Of Judge In Limbo

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By STEVE ANDREWS

sandrews@wfla.com

Published: February 12, 2009

A commission that investigates judges isn't sure whether it will continue prosecuting Judge Thomas E. Stringer now that he has retired from the 2nd District Court of Appeal.

Stringer faced a Judicial Qualifications Commission investigation about his financial dealings with stripper Christy Yamanaka. He informed the governor's office late Tuesday that he was opting out of the state deferred retirement option program. By signing up for the program, he had five years to retire. He joined the program 2 and a half years ago.
JQC Executive Director Brooke Kennerly said she is not sure if the commission will continue its prosecution of Stringer. She said that will be decided by the full commission and she may have to poll all nine members.

Stringer had been subpoenaed by the JQC on Feb. 2 and was scheduled to appear in Tampa on Friday morning for a deposition.

JQC Special Counsel Gregory Miller said the planned deposition is off for now.

"We are canceling the deposition pending further guidance from the JQC," Miller said.

According to Miller, the Florida Constitution allows the JQC to continue prosecuting a judge, and recommending disciplinary action to the Supreme Court even after he leaves office.

The JQC filed misconduct charges against Stringer in January following a series of reports by News Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune that revealed Stringer allowed Yamanaka to deposit tens of thousands of dollars into his bank accounts while she owed creditors more than $300,000.

The reports also confirmed Stringer purchased a house in Hawaii with Yamanaka and left her name off the mortgage. Stringer admitted the arrangement and said he paid her in full when the house was sold. He also signed a lease for a New York apartment for Yamanaka because of her credit issues. Yamanaka also paid for the judge's trips to Las Vegas, New York and bought him a Rolex watch. Judge Stringer admitted Yamanaka paid for the trips and failed to report those on his financial disclosure forms.

Reached in Las Vegas by telephone, Yamanaka said she hopes the JQC continues its prosecution of Stringer.

"It is not fair for this to go away because he retires," she said.

Kennerly said the JQC has a limited budget and it is not unusual for the agency to stop its prosecution if a judge steps down.

Stringer was appointed to the 2nd District Court of Appeal in February 1999 by Gov. Jeb Bush. In 1987, Gov. Bob Martinez made Stringer the first black circuit judge in Hillsborough County.

News Channel 8 reporter Steve Andrews can be reached at (813) 221-5779.

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