On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Investigative Panel of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission filed a “notice of formal charges” against Broward County Judge Lauren Peffer, alleging misconduct during her 2024 campaign for election to the Seventeenth Circuit. The charges stem from Peffer’s use of unverified and fabricated materials related to a former technology officer from the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which the commission claims damaged the judiciary’s reputation.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Lauren Peffer.”
According to the commission, Peffer referenced claims made by a terminated Ninth Judicial Circuit employee who self-published an e-book titled *The Ninth Circus Court of Florida, My 30-Year Job from Hell!* The e-book, filled with profanity, portrays the Ninth Judicial Circuit’s judiciary as corrupt and incompetent, targeting former Chief Judges Belvin Perry and Donald Myers, as well as current Chief Judge Lisa Munyon.
During her campaign, Peffer cited this e-book while seeking an endorsement from the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s editorial board, stating that “recent revelations from the Ninth Circuit have highlighted an image crisis within Florida’s judiciary.” The commission alleges she did not read the e-book or verify its claims before using it to support her campaign.
Additionally, Peffer shared a link to a website containing a purported 18-minute phone call involving Chief Judge Munyon, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz, and Justice Renatha Francis. The recording, which the commission states is fabricated, likely through computer manipulation or generative AI, includes unrealistic dialogue, such as Munyon allegedly making derogatory remarks about former Chief Judge Perry. The commission claims Peffer listened to parts of the recording, including the inflammatory excerpt, but failed to confirm its authenticity before sharing it with the editorial board.
The charges specify that Peffer did not exercise due diligence, as she never contacted the former employee, the judges named in the materials, or verified the e-book or recording’s legitimacy. The commission further notes that Peffer attended judicial election training by the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, which emphasized promoting public confidence in the judiciary and ethical conduct, but disregarded these principles. Her actions, the commission alleges, violated Canons 7A(3)(b) and 7A(3)(e) of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct by eroding public trust and perpetuating false perceptions of judicial misconduct.
Peffer has acknowledged her lack of due diligence, admitting she did not read the e-book, listen to the full recording, or attempt to verify the materials. The commission asserts that her campaign, which aimed to restore public trust, instead harmed the judiciary’s integrity by spreading misinformation.
Peffer has 20 days from the service of the notice to file a written response with the Clerk of the Florida Supreme Court.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
