Open Letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: 2nd Judicial Circuit Applicant, Georgia Cappleman

Dear Governor Ron DeSantis:

As you know, Tallahassee doesn’t have time for counterproductivity in the days of Criminal Justice Reform.

In July 2009, then, Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist, appointed Jackie Fulford, who was serving as Chief Assistant State Attorney for Willie Meggs, to replace a retiring Second Judicial Circuit Judge. Florida’s 2nd Judicial Circuit includes Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Franklin, and Gulf counties.

Over six years, 2nd Judicial Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford, disregarded a lot of judicial codes of conduct. Fulford became the subject of an investigation by The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission. Fulford’s misconduct and immorality are two of many findings that subsequently led to her removal from the bench—never to return to serve judgeship.

An overwhelming amount of citizens, who Fulford failed, turned out the vote to support the League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, as well as others, including Represent Us, a non-profit organization, in passing an Anti-Corruption Act. The city of Tallahassee is the first city in the United States to pass—to go forward in their action to fix their broken system.

As recent as August 11, 2020, you, sir, Governor Ron DeSantis, was given a list of applicants who had been interviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission to fill two judgeship vacancies in the Second Judicial Circuit. On that list—is a white woman who is a proven liar. The woman’s name is Georgia Cappleman. She worked for former 2nd Judicial State Attorney Willie Meggs as Chief Assistant State Attorney; she currently hold the same position under 2nd Judicial State Attorney Jack Campbell.

In 2011, Georgia Cappleman lied on DeShon Thomas, a 17-year-old black male, in order to protect a white adult male who had been impersonating a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective with the Violent Crimes Unit. With Notarized documents, identifying the impersonator as a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective, Cappleman obtain an Indictment for Two Counts of 1st Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Delinquent against DeShon. Back during that time, DeShon was a freshman at Tallahassee Community College. DeShon, pled Not Guilty.

It was not until October 2013, during DeShon’s trial, as to when DeShon and his mother learned that the man who was at the pinnacle of having wreaked havoc in their lives was never an employee with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, but rather a wealthy Republican friend to the Campbell Family (former Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell and his son, Jack Campbell both claiming to be Democrats). DeShon was convicted and is currently serving Two Life Sentences plus 30 years.

Georgia Cappleman, along with many others, continues to remain muzzled about the lies she told, even during this Covid-19 Pandemic, while an Innocent Child (who has grown into a 27-year-old man), sits in Florida State Prison, wrongfully convicted.

WFSU News published an article by Blaise Gainey on their website, entitled, ‘Nominating Commission Interviews Applicants For Second Circuit Court Vacancies.’ In the article, applicant, Joshua Hawkes, was asked about his lack of experience during the interviewing process. In the second part of Mr. Hawkes answer, he says, “But having the right character traits which I think I possess, a hard work ethic, a certain humility to reach out to others for help when needed I think is what is required and I think I’d do a great job.”

https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2020-08-11/judicial-nominating-commission-interviews-applicants-for-second-circuit-court-vacancies

Georgia Cappleman is one of many assistant state attorneys who worked under former 2nd Judicial State Attorney Willie Meggs that have Florida Bar Complaints against them. It’s forever documented that Georgia Cappleman does not have the right character traits to do the job that she is currently doing, let alone the job of a circuit court judge. She does not possess humility, and she severely lacks the ability to exercise moral and ethical judgement. More importantly, she will not do a great job as a 2nd Judicial Circuit Judge simply because her lies—her perjury—has already failed the integrity of Florida’s Judicial System.

Appointing Georgia Cappleman as a 2nd Judicial Circuit Judge would be counter-productive to your pardoning of the Groveland Four. In addition, with Cappleman on the bench would undermine the Women’s League of Voters, Represent Us, and all those who fought and continue to fight against corruption and injustice in Tallahassee.

Respectfully,