Day: February 25, 2016

February 24, 2016

The Honorable Michelle S. Klimt
Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation
6061 Gateway Parkway
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Secretary Julie L. Jones
Florida Department of Corrections
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500

Dear Ms. Klimt and Ms. Jones:

Re: POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS CONSPIRACY STATUTE BY STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN FLORIDA

I am the mother of DeShon Thomas, who is currently an inmate at Gulf Correctional Institute Prison Annex, located in Wewahitchka, Florida. DeShon’s Department of Correction’s number is DC#N27493. I am writing you this letter because I am HIGHLY concerned about the welfare of my son, DeShon, as well as the citizens of Florida and the integrity of Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit.

My son DeShon is currently in solitary confinement. I am asking that DeShon be immediately released from prison based on the fact that DeShon was kidnapped by a man named Donald Odham, who on January 28, 2011, identified himself to us (DeShon and me) in the lobby of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, as Leon County Sheriff’s Detective Don Odham. Nearly three years later, as DeShon tried to get a fair trial, many judicial officials, including DeShon’s own legal defense, worked against DeShon. DeShon and I then learned that Don Odham was NEVER an employee with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Since DeShon’s sentencing, DeShon’s appeal has been denied. An attorney has told me that the Regional Counsel’s Office, who represented DeShon at trial and in his appeal, continues to misrepresent DeShon.

If DeShon cannot be immediately released, I am asking that DeShon be relocated out of Florida’s 1st, 14th, 2nd, and 3rd , Judicial Circuits (prison districts) for his safety and the safety of the attorney that I may retain to represent him. Prior to DeShon’s trial, DeShon had been placed in solitary confinement for more than a year at the Leon County Jail. I strongly believe that it was due to retaliation by State Prosecutor Jack Campbell and his dad, Leon Sheriff Larry Campbell. There are several judicial officials who have family members who work in various positions for the lower court, in the appeals court of the 1^st and 2^nd Judicial Circuits and in Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office—those with the last name Meggs, Meggs-Pate, Wheeler, and Campbell. Also, there is reason to believe that Governor Rick Scott or someone in his office may have “Meddled” in DeShon’s judicial proceedings with Circuit Judge James C. Hankinson and State Attorney Willie Meggs and/or Assistant State Attorney Jack Campbell prior to DeShon’s trial. The organization, Integrity Florida, a non-partisan government watchdog group, have voiced their concerns about Governor Scott’s violations of civil rights.

My family and I no longer live in Tallahassee. We live near our hometown of Orlando. To date I have paid hundreds of dollars to consult with attorneys to help DeShon. However, the attorneys either do not want to get involved with such a “stinky” case or maybe fearful of getting involved in DeShon’s case. During an investigation conducted by the Judicial Qualifications Commission of 2^nd Judicial Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford, an attorney admitted that his actions were due to “fear” of Judge Fulford. The JQC found Judge Fulford to have “a pattern of misconduct.” Judge Fulford abruptly replaced Judge Hankinson on DeShon’s case immediately after I contacted Governor Rick Scott’s office in regards to possible violations of DeShon’s constitutional rights during DeShon’s case process.

It seems that the JQC has either chosen not to inform The Florida Bar about Jackie Fulford’s “pattern of misconduct” or The Florida Bar has chosen not enforce their rules against her. The Florida Bar is governed by the Florida Supreme Court. The citizens of Florida—including DeShon, other inmates and attorneys—are not safe when judges who have been investigated and found to “have a pattern of misconduct”—are not being reported and/or disciplined. While I do not believe that the JQC and The Florida Bar have problems holding attorneys and judges in other judicial circuit accountable for their violations, I strongly believe that the JQC and The Florida Bar has problems holding attorneys and judges within the 1^st and 2^nd Judicial Circuits accountable for their violations—considering that the 1^st and 2^nd Judicial Circuits are their home base. Bottom line—my son needs to be safe and any attorney that I retain to represent him needs to be safe in doing so.

Sincerely,
Carissa Chambers

Tallahassee, FL—In 2015, the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission found Florida’s 2^nd Judicial Circuit Judge Jackie Jackie Fulford to have shown “a pattern of misconduct.” The JQC investigation uncovered, in part, that Fulford used her position to solicit an attorney pro bono services stating in their findings, “Your solicitation of the attorney to perform these services was an inappropriate use of your position, and a violation of Canons.”  The attorney whom Judge Fulford solicited told the JQC “ he feared that if he did not accept the pro bono representation, it might result in an adverse ruling on his pending motion.” Instead of the JQC moving forward with disciplinary actions against Fulford, the JQC recommended “involuntary retirement” for Fulford to the Florida Supreme Court.

It is clear that Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission operates as an independent agency, created by the Florida Constitution solely to investigate misconduct by Florida state judges. Not so, for The Florida Bar, that is regulated by the Florida Supreme Court.

Article V, Section 15 of the Constitution of the State of Florida gives the Supreme Court of Florida exclusive and ultimate authority to regulate the admission…and the discipline of those persons who are admitted to practice… The Florida Bar is the investigative and prosecutorial authority in the lawyer regulatory process.

 The JQC is made up of fifteen members—of those members some are judges and attorneys. Through DUE DILIGENCE it is the responsibility of those members to inform The Florida Bar of Jackie Fulford’s “pattern of misconduct.” The JQC refusing to report Fulford’s “pattern of misconduct” is a violation of The Florida Bar Rule of Professional Conduct: Rule 4-8.3.

Rule of Professional Conduct: Rule 4-8.3 a) Reporting misconduct of other lawyers: A lawyer having knowledge that another lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantial question as to that lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects shall inform the appropriate professional authority.

1. b) Reporting misconduct of judges: A lawyer having knowledge that a judge has committed a violation of applicable rules of judicial conduct that raises a substantial question as to the judge’s fitness for office shall inform the appropriate authority.

The Rules that are in place to protect all attorneys and consumers set by the Florida Supreme Court should be fully enforced. No attorney should practice in “fear” leading to the attorney to participate in acts of misconduct—“fear” of a judge’s “adverse” ruling against their client—as it is documented.