State of Florida - 12th Judicial Circuit
Judge Maria Ruhl - Disqualified as Referee in Bar Complaint
Judge in Bar Association complaint against Fort Myers attorney disqualified as referee
In an article written by Michael Braun and published online by Fort Myers News-Press on April 6, 2021:
A motion to disqualify the judge acting as a referee in a Bar Association complaint against a Fort Myers attorney has been granted.
12th Judicial Circuit Judge Maria Ruhl had been acting as referee in the Bar Association complaint against attorney Chris Crowley.
Chris Crowley A motion for disqualification was filed by Crowley against the judge on March 31 and granted Monday by Chief Judge Kimberly Bonner.
The Bar Association complaint was filed in April 2020 and regarded Crowley’s actions in 2018 while he was still a candidate for 20th Judicial Circuit State Attorney. The race pitted Crowley against then assistant state attorney Amira Fox.
The gist of the complaint was that Crowley publicly disparaged Fox through various political campaign materials, advertisements, interviews, and social media postings.
The motion to disqualify Ruhl pointed to the fact that she and Fox both used the same campaign treasurer, Eric Robinson, in their 2018 political campaigns and had not previously disclosed the relationship.
Following several days of hearings in February, Ruhl had recommended Crowley be found guilty of misconduct justifying disciplinary measures and that a sanctions hearing be held to determine the appropriate discipline.
The disqualification now resets the issue and a new hearing will be held. The new referee will be Twelfth Judicial Circuit Judge Melissa Gould.
If found guilty Crowley could be barred from running for state attorney for up to five years.
Crowley was recently recalled to active duty in North Carolina with the U.S. Army Reserve Command and the case could be placed on an indefinite hold pending the length of his posting.