Judge says she can’t comment on juror case

Palm Beach County Chief Circuit Judge Krista Marx releases statement on issue

National outrage erupted when Palm Beach Judge John Kastrenakes sent a juror who overslept to jail for 10 days. But on Saturday, Palm Beach County Chief Circuit Judge Krista Marx released a statement that says her position prevents her commenting.

“As Chief Judge, I do not have the authority to review the legality of the rulings made by each individual judge,” Marx said in an emailed statement. “Instead, that authority lies with the appellate courts.”

She also didn’t respond to calls for Kastrenakes to be booted from jury trials.

“It is also important to know that my Chief Judge authority does not extend to investigating or disciplining my fellow judicial officers for allegations of judicial misconduct,” she said. “In the event a complaint is filed against a judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit with the Judicial Qualifications Commission, I will recuse myself from any matter involving that judge.”

Kastrenakes sentenced 21-year-old Deandre Somerville to 10 days in jail, and later revoked it and cleared the young man’s record.

Protests continued to intensify Friday against Kastrenakes who, over a span of six months this year, jailed two young black men for violating jury duty, a rare treatment in America of jurors of any color.

There are growing concerns the black community will avoid jury service because of what politicians and community leaders call “unconscionable” punishments by K as tr en ak es against Somerville and another man, Keith Lattimore.

In a rally outside the main courthouse in West Palm Beach courthouse Friday, Somerville’s lawyer urged court officials to immediately yank the “unfit” Kastrenakes off jury trials after serving 10 years on the bench.

Marx responded: “When the appropriate constitutional bodies complete their process in the matter at hand, the court will respond accordingly.”