When was this published?

This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.

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government

Florida Supreme Court rejects reprimand for judge who asked black man in court if he ever "chopped cotton"

Summary by The Miami Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by CBS Miami, CBS4 Miami · July 23, 2026 · 2 min read

A Florida judge who last year asked a Black man in his courtroom if he ever "chopped cotton" and acted unprofessionally towards two public defenders won't face a public reprimand, after the Florida Supreme Court opted not to punish him.The unanimous decision, released Thursday, didn't give a reason

Why this matters in The Miami

The Florida Supreme Court's decision not to publicly reprimand Judge John Jordan III raises questions about the standards of conduct expected from judges in Miami-Dade County and beyond. While Jordan's behavior was deemed unprofessional, the court's ruling may be seen as inconsistent with the high standards of decorum required from judges in diverse communities like Miami's. The city's residents, particularly those from Little Havana and other neighborhoods with significant African American and Latino populations, may be concerned about the potential impact of such behavior on trust in the judicial system. As the matter is sent back to a disciplinary hearing panel, Miamians will be watching to see how this case affects the broader conversation about judicial accountability and the need for judges to uphold the principles of fairness and respect in their interactions with all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.

About this story

Original reporting by CBS4 Miami. The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: government · Published: July 23, 2026 · Source: CBS4 Miami · Reading time: 2 min

Summary created by	The Miami Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	CBS Miami, CBS4 Miami
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 23, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Florida Supreme Court rejects reprimand for judge who asked black man in court if he ever "chopped cotton"

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