A sitting Polk County judge is facing a rare election challenge due to questions regarding past inappropriate behavior with a bailiff.

  • Judge Susan Barber faces Carson Bassett on August 30th ballot
  • Florida Supreme Court reprimanded Barber last year
  • Controversy with Barber played role in Bassett decision to run

Judge Susan Barber’s controversial past is a reason why she is facing a challenge. The Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded Barber last year for an admitted inappropriate relationship with a bailiff she supervised. At the time, the judge’s last name was Flood.

The reprimand followed a 2013 investigation by the state attorney’s office that concluded Barber kissed the bailiff and the two exchanged thousands of phone calls and texts, among other inappropriate behaviors. The report also indicated that seveal other Polk County judges had expressed their concerns to Barber about the appearance of her relationship with the bailiff.

In its public reprimand of Barber, the high court also noted her otherwise exemplary career. That’s something Barber is stressing to voters.

"My regular service as an acting circuit judge and my otherwise unblemished record as a county judge has indicated that everything set before [the Florida Supreme Court] does not demonstrate an unfitness for office,” she said.

Barber said she consulted with family members about running for re-election, because she assumed the past might be brought up.

"The decision to go forward in this race was a heartfelt decision, knowing that it would be very probable that those events would be brought to bear again,” she said.

Photo: Rick Elmhorst, staff

Carson Bassett, who is running against Barber, said the past controversy with the incumbent judge played a role in his decision to run.

“It’s one of the factors in why I am running," said Bassett, a former assistant state attorney. "I believe our elected officials should be ethical leaders in the community."

Bassett is only 34, but believes he has the needed experience to be a judge.

"I am the only candidate in this race who has a proven jury trial record as an attorney,” said Bassett. Bassett said he worked as a prosecutor in about 50 jury trial cases.

Barber, in contrast, feels her years of experience as a judge make her the most qualified candidate.

"I think I bring very, very well rounded experience to the bench,” she said.

To read the previously released report on the 2013 investigation into Barber's behavior, click below: