TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court says it will publicly reprimand a Hillsborough County judge who tried to help a U.S. Army veteran expelled by the University of South Florida.
The court ruled Thursday that Circuit Judge Gregory Holder has engaged in misconduct in his bid to assist a former U.S. Army Green Beret. Army Staff Sgt. Clay Allred was kicked out of school after he was convicted of charges stemming from an incident where he fired his gun outside a Tampa gas station.
A judicial conduct panel found that Holder told USF officials he could change Allred’s probation conditions and discussed the case with a prosecutor.
Holder admitted the charges and has apologized for his improper conduct on behalf of Allred, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
