A Florida Judge Challenges a Public Defender to a Fist Fight in Court

So did you hear the one about the Florida Judge who threatened to beat up a lawyer?  It really happened in a Florida courtroom on Monday.  The two went out in the hallway to actually fight.  

Judge John Murphy and Assistant Public Defender Andrew Weinstock got into it after Weinstock refused to waive a client's right to a speedy trial.

Judge Murphy challenged Weinstock,  The two men met in a nearby hallway,  and it was on!  There were no cameras out there, we can hear it though.  It sounds like the judge won.

The attorney said as soon as he got out in the hallway the judge grabbed him and hit him.

Deputies broke it up and the judge went back in the courtroom and continued doing his judge thing.

WESH reports the lawyer declined to press charges.  Law enforcement officials said they did not see the actual punches thrown, so Judge Murphy was not arrested.

Late Tuesday afternoon we got the word that Judge Murphy is taking a leave of absence so he can get anger management counseling.