Judge goes “out back”, punches lawyer in head

A judge in Florida has been recorded arguing with a defence lawyer before telling him, If you want to fight, let’s go out back”. The lawyer then leaves the courtroom and an altercation can be heard. According to a colleague quoted by Florida Today, “The lawyer said as soon as he got in the hallway the judge grabbed him by the collar and began punching him in the head.” In Australia, the issue of judicial bullying has been debated by lawyers and judges, who acknowledge that courtroom exchanges are stressful and sometimes necessarily heated, and agree that workplace bullying is unacceptable.