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Judge John E. Jordan III (Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida).
A judge in Florida is set to receive a public reprimand after making racially insensitive comments directed at a Black man, where he asked if the man had ever “chopped cotton before.”
The recommendation for this disciplinary action was made on Friday by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, which is responsible for overseeing judicial conduct in Florida. The remarks in question were made by Orange County Judge John E. Jordan III during a court session last year.
The commission’s report highlights that Jordan was overseeing a plea hearing in July 2025 for a 33-year-old Black woman involved in a felony battery case. During the hearing, the state requested that she complete 30 hours of community service. Jordan then turned to the woman’s great-uncle, inquiring if he owned any farmland.
Jordan, as noted by the commission, remarked, “All my family’s farming. They’d love me out there. You ever chopped cotton before? You know what that is? You take a hoe and you knock out the weeds. That’ll straighten you up real quick doing that stuff.”
The commission deemed Jordan’s comments as “inappropriate,” pointing out the historical stereotype of associating Black individuals with cotton picking. Jordan acknowledged that his comments were “ill-considered” and admitted it was the first instance of using the term “chopping cotton” in his courtroom.
“Judge Jordan insists that he is not a racist, and does not make rulings or decisions improperly based on race, and the Commission has no evidence that such has occurred,” the findings said. “If the Commission had such evidence, then the Commission would be making a far different recommendation of far more severe sanctions, up to and including removal from office.”
Jordan pointed to the fact that Florida A&M University, a historically Black college, invited him to join the school’s law advisory committee.
The “cotton” comment was not the only thing that drew the commission’s ire. In April 2025, Jordan was overseeing jury selection for an aggravated battery case when “unprofessionally scolded two public defenders in a manner that was not patient, dignified or courteous,” the commission wrote.
Jordan was “seemingly annoyed” that the lawyers had not conferred with their client about challenges to prospective jurors.
“How much time do you need?” the judge asked. “Can I get you something to eat? Something to drink?”
When the public defenders complained they were being “unfairly treated and rushed,” Jordan allegedly raised his voice and told them to “shut up.”
“That is rude,” a public defender stated.
“Shut up,” Jordan responded, per the commission.
The attorney held his ground: “No, that is very rude,” he said.
But Jordan apparently wasn’t backing down.
“Shut up,” Jordan allegedly repeated. “I’m not going to listen to two people arguing. I’ll listen to one. Okay?”
Jordan ended up calling a mistrial, saying “I’m not going to deal with pettiness like this” and recused himself from the case, per the commission.
The judge has been on the bench since 2005, per his biography page. The Florida Supreme Court will hand down the punishment for Jordan based on the commission’s findings.