A Broward domestic violence judge doesn't have to step down from cases because he has prior connections to an anti-domestic violence advocacy group, an appeals court ruled Wednesday.
Last week, Broward's public defenders asked Circuit Judge Geoffrey Cohen to recuse himself from scores of cases because he had donated money in 2006 to Women in Distress of Broward County, and earlier this year had served on the group's judicial and legal council.
When a defendant in a domestic violence case asked Cohen to disqualify himself based on that council membership, Cohen agreed and resigned from the council. But he denied the more recent requests, prompting the appeal.
On Wednesday, the Fourth District Court of Appeal denied the public defenders' request. It did not state why.
Cohen declined to comment Wednesday.
For more information, please visit http://www.womenindistress.org/news.html