No Misconduct by Florida 'NHI' Judge
The former chief criminal judge in Broward County, Florida, has been cleared of misconduct for using the acronym NHI, short for “no humans involved,” after an April attempted murder trial ended in the defendant’s acquittal.
The victim, the defendant and the witnesses in the case were all African-American, and several lawyers, including the county’s public defender, called Circuit Judge Charles Greene’s comment insensitive and racist. However, the Judicial Qualifications Commission found that the remark did not constitute judicial misconduct, reports the Miami Herald.
Greene, 51, who has been on the bench 16 years, says his remark wasn’t intended to be racist or demeaning. He stepped down as chief judge and asked for reassignment to the civil division after the controversy arose. He told the AP today that he is happy with his new job and the commission’s decision. ”I’m going on vacation today and am able to relax and forget about everything,” he says.
