A former judge who presided over the trial of the Parkland high school mass murderer has sharply criticized the public defenders who represented him. The judge, Elizabeth Scherer, spoke to law students at Florida International University, stating that the defense attorneys acted unprofessionally and crossed several lines during the trial.
Scherer mentioned that the defense team, led by assistant public defender Melisa McNeill, lost their perspective during the four-year pretrial motions, three months of jury selection, and the three-month trial. She highlighted instances where the defense team engaged in distracting behaviors while prosecution witnesses were testifying, such as talking, passing notes, using a computer printer, and even making inappropriate gestures.
Despite her criticisms, Scherer sentenced the defendant, Nikolas Cruz, to life in prison without parole after he pleaded guilty to the murders. The sentencing decision was influenced by the jury's split vote on the death penalty, which led to a change in Florida law regarding capital punishment recommendations.
Following the trial, Scherer faced scrutiny from the state's Judicial Qualifications Commission for her conduct towards Cruz's attorneys and the victims' families. The commission found that Scherer allowed her emotions to affect her judgment and made inappropriate statements. She was reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court and removed from another murder case she was overseeing.
Despite the criticism, Scherer defended her actions, stating that she believes she did a good job overseeing the trial. She also addressed the controversy surrounding her hugs with prosecutors and victims' families, expressing regret that they were deemed inappropriate.
Since resigning from the bench, Scherer has pursued other opportunities, including joining a civil law firm and hosting a legal affairs podcast. She reflected on her experience with the Parkland case, emphasizing the challenges she faced as a judge handling a complex death penalty trial.
Throughout the ordeal, Scherer maintained her composure, even when faced with emotional testimonies from victims' family members. She described her determination to remain stoic, stating that she refused to show vulnerability in the courtroom.
Regarding the defendant, Cruz, Scherer labeled him a 'sociopath' and asserted that he showed no remorse for his actions or the pain he caused to the victims' families and the Parkland community.
