Rebarbative Republican SCOTT C. DUPONT was defrocked as a judge by Florida Supreme Court and suspended by Florida Bar. Attorney DuPONT, known as "DUI DUDE" and "MY DUI GUY, P.A." is making a comeback, running for Circuit Court Judge again. DuPONT "bears watchin," as they say in East Tennessee. Bless his heart. From Daytona Beach News Journal:
Disgraced former judge Scott DuPont who was removed from bench seeks another judgeship
The State Supreme Court in 2018 unanimously booted the former 7th Circuit judge from the bench. He has filed paperwork to run for another circuit seat.
Disgraced former 7th Circuit Judge Scott DuPont, whom the state Supreme Court unanimously removed from the bench in 2018, is running for a circuit judge seat.
The Florida Supreme Court removed DuPont, stating that he was unfit in 2018 to serve on the bench and citing egregious campaign violations as well as judicial canon violations. While the order removed him as a judge, it did not bar him from running again.
The Florida Bar also suspended DuPont in 2019 from practicing law for 90 days based on the violations that got him booted from the bench.
But DuPont submitted paperwork this week with the State Division of Elections to run against incumbent Circuit Judge Rose Marie Preddy in the Circuit 7 group 11 seat.
Disgraced former judge Scott DuPont who was removed from bench seeks another judgeship
The State Supreme Court in 2018 unanimously booted the former 7th Circuit judge from the bench. He has filed paperwork to run for another circuit seat.
Disgraced former 7th Circuit Judge Scott DuPont, whom the state Supreme Court unanimously removed from the bench in 2018, is running for a circuit judge seat.
The Florida Supreme Court removed DuPont, stating that he was unfit in 2018 to serve on the bench and citing egregious campaign violations as well as judicial canon violations. While the order removed him as a judge, it did not bar him from running again.
The Florida Bar also suspended DuPont in 2019 from practicing law for 90 days based on the violations that got him booted from the bench.
But DuPont submitted paperwork this week with the State Division of Elections to run against incumbent Circuit Judge Rose Marie Preddy in the Circuit 7 group 11 seat.
The Florida Supreme Court stated in a 2018 opinion that DuPont was unfit to serve on the bench after he "knowingly misrepresent(ed) facts about the Anthonys during his 2016 campaign," the opinion states.
DuPont posted on a website what he described as “possible matching arrest records” for Anthony’s wife and his daughter, but neither had ever been arrested.
DuPont also violated canons when he not only failed to verify some of the false information about Anthony and his family, but apparently made some of the information up.
"Not only did Judge DuPont fail to verify the accuracy of the information he was provided as was his obligation, but it also appears that Judge DuPont actually manufactured some of the facts he disseminated in relation to that information," the Supreme Court opinion stated.
The Supreme Court found that DuPont’s “careless” actions caused potential harm to Anthony’s family. The justices said that such carelessness is inconsistent with a judge promoting confidence in the judiciary.
The Supreme Court also found that DuPont violated judicial canons when he ordered that a man be searched and his $180 seized during a family court hearing in 2011. The Supreme Court said it has previously condemned “such unlawful, judicially ordered seizures in open court.”
The court also cited a first appearance hearing DuPont conducted during Memorial Day 2016. DuPont held the hearing without the presence of attorneys to suit his campaign schedule, disrespecting the attorneys and the inmates, the justices found. DuPont has offered no excuse or explanation, the justices found.
The Florida Supreme Court found DuPont violated several judicial canons, including when he said he would not find statutes unconstitutional.
The court followed the recommendations of an ethics panel which stated that DuPont showed a “reckless disregard for the truth."
he Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission had recommended DuPont be removed after finding him guilty of several violations of the code of judicial conduct.
At the time, DuPont presided over civil cases at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center in Bunnell and the Putnam County Courthouse in Palatka.
DuPont was the first judge removed from the 7th Circuit bench since Circuit Judge Gayle Graziano in 1997. The 7th Circuit covers Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
DuPont was admitted to practice law in April 2004, according to the Florida Bar website.
At the time DuPont was removed he was 46 and lived in Welaka.
DuPont’s current Florida Bar webpage lists his practice name as “My DUI Guy, P.A.” in St. Augustine.
Reinstatement
The Florida Bar suspended DuPont effective Nov. 12, 2019, for the 90 days and granted his petition for reinstatement on May 30, 2020. The Florida Bar interviewed 10 of DuPont's references, including attorneys and judges, who supported his reinstatement and said he was "rehabilitated" and had expressed remorse. The bar stated that during the suspension, DuPont performed community service and was involved in church ministries.
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Footnote: SCOTT C. DUPONT sells his legal services as "MY DUI GUY, P.A." and DUI DUDE, with accompanying advertising, vehicles and intellectual property:
My DUI Guy, P.A. — Serving Florida’s Legal Needs from the Nation’s Oldest City
My DUI Guy, P.A. is a full-service General Law Practice that is founded on the pillars of Character, Honesty, Integrity, Experience, and the Highest Quality Client Care. Our St. Augustine law firm proudly serves clients in St. Johns County and elsewhere throughout the state of Florida. At My DUI Guy, P.A., we are passionate about meeting our clients' needs and dedicated to pursuing the results they deserve.
One of Us: Attorney Scott C. DuPont is a seventh generation native of Florida who was born and raised right here in our area, so he is one of us and fully understands the legal issues that we face in our community and state.
Experience Like No Other: My DUI Guy, P.A. is one of the few firms where you will find legal experience based on more than 48,000 cases and where your case can be viewed through the eyes of a Former Circuit Court Judge. As a Former Circuit Court Judge, Attorney DuPont has completed thousands of trials and tens of thousands of hearings in just about every area of Florida Law. As a result, he has a knowledge and understanding of our legal system and our legal issues that is second to none.
With you every step of the way: At My DUI Guy, P.A., we understand that your legal issues can be intimidating, confusing, and at times a real battle. That’s why we stand with you every step of the way and are here to serve you by equipping you with the counsel you need to make the best decisions.
Don't want to come to the law office? No problem, we also pride ourselves in thinking outside of the box by providing a variety of ways to meet with clients. At My DUI Guy, P.A., we proudly offer client consultations by phone, video conference, and we even come to you.
Contact My DUI Guy, P.A. today and let our family help you with your legal needs.
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The criminal justice system is mostly an assault on the lower classes and extortion scheme. Jail and fines in place of mental health care. Some people do need to do some time, but not in some corrupt and inhumane concentration camps. All this under Republican governors by the way. The ones who run on "government bad" while they make it that way. The GOP is also a scam. Their aim is to present a facade of government and someone in charge while they put up a smoke screen for all the injustice and grifting... and they get paid to do that.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Scott..how about Fraud Scott? When will he finally be ousted as senator.. hopefully soon. Disgrace to humanity and grifter. He should dye his bald head blue and move to the villages with DeSantis and Billy the Bamboozler.
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