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Broward County Judge Under Fire Over Alleged Contempt For Homeless

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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- Broward County bond court Judge John Jay Hurley is known for his off-handed disarming remarks to defendants, but now he is catching heat over it.

The judge who has overseen magistrate court for six years once told a husband who landed in jail for forgetting his wife s birthday to buy her a card, flowers and take her to Red Lobster.

"I do what I think is right, I follow the law and that is all I can do," Hurley told CBS4's Joan Murray.

Chief Public Defender Howard Finklestein wrote a four page letter to the chief judge asking for Hurley to be transferred out of bond court.

"I believe Judge Hurley's recent behavior expressing his contempt for the homeless and members of my office has crossed the line," Finklestein wrote.

CLICK HERE To Watch Joan Murray's Report 

Hurley twice ejected public defender Nadine Giraukt Levy for asking the homeless be given counsel.

"He has no tolerance for the homeless and no tolerance for me so he shouldn't be doing that job," said Levy.

Judge Hurley insists that is not the case. 

"We've had so many accomplishments, lowered jail population gotten homeless into shelters.  I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing," said Hurley.

The chief judge says he supports Hurley and has no plans to move him

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