Judith Hawkins, who served as a county judge in Tallahassee, Florida, evidently used her government position to advance her religious ministry and lost office after being found guilty. Hawkins founded the company Gaza Road Ministries and ran it from inside the Leon County Courthouse apart from selling her ministry’s books to legal practitioners who appeared before her.

According to James Ruth, Judicial Qualifications Commission Hearing Panel Chair, Hawkins was found guilty of obliterating subpoenaed financial records, misleading investigators during depositions and not handing over material without official orders. She was also found guilty of publishing photos of herself wearing the judicial robe on her ministry’s website, not complying with tax laws, using less than her full time for judicial duties and reading tabloids during court proceedings.

According to blogger Hemant Mehta’s blog Patheos, “On November 10, 2011, during a hearing in open court, an attorney appearing before Judge Hawkins mentioned, ‘Judge, I hear you have a new book out,’ and requested an autographed copy. He heard about the book from one of the bailiffs. The judge, who was still on the bench, requested $15 dollars, told the attorney to pay her personally, and said, ‘I’ll take it right now.’ The attorney offered and Judge Hawkins accepted an additional $5 more for her autograph. Judge Hawkins thanked the lawyer, said, ‘I like your spirit’ and asked him to ‘spread it amongst the others’ because ‘these work for the State. I’m going to let you take the private bar crowd.’”

These allegations against Hawkins first surfaced in December 2012 and the case has been continuing ever since. However, on July 1st, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Hawkins could no longer serve as a judge. While the Judicial Qualifications Commission said that she should be fined $17,000 and suspended for 90 days, the Supreme Court can decide on a much harsher punishment unless Hawkins provides them with a good reason to reconsider before August 14.