Florida judge does not return to courtroom after berating frail inmate who died 3 days later

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Florida judge who berated a frail inmate who died three days later will not return to the bench, court officials said.

Circuit Court Judge Merrilee Ehrlich will not return to the bench after her treatment of Sandra Twiggs, 59, who appeared before her last week on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, Broward Chief Administrative Judge Jack Tuter said Saturday, according to WFOR.

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"In light of recent events we have decided Judge Ehrlich will be told not to return to the courthouse as her retirement is effective June 30," Tuter said, according to The Associated Press. "I will be working this weekend to find a substitute to cover Judge Ehrlich's (family court) division."

During the first appearance, Twiggs, who was in a wheelchair, explained to Ehrlich that she suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and needed breathing treatments, according to WFOR.

First appearance hearings are streamed online and recorded.

"Ma'am, don't even say yes. Just listen," Ehrlich said. "I'm not here to talk about your breathing treatments."

Ehrlich released Twiggs without bond. Twiggs died Wednesday in her sleep.

"When she came home from being in there she was never the same," Carolyn Porter, Twiggs' goddaughter, told WFOR.

Ehrlich who was first elected in 2008 planned to retire June 30. She filed her retirement paperwork two weeks prior to this incident.

Tuter said he would be calling Twiggs’ family to apologize.

“I am saddened and disappointed in the way Judge Ehrlich behaved on the video. Her behavior cannot be condoned,” he said.

Cox Media Group