Elizabeth Scherer

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Florida Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer sentences Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nov. 2, 2022. Cruz was formally sentenced to life in prison for murdering 17 people at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018. A state commission concluded Monday, June 5, 2023, that Scherer, should be publicly reprimanded for showing bias toward the prosecution, failing to curtail “vitriolic statements” directed at his attorneys by the victims' families and sometimes “allowed her emotions to overcome her judgement.” (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool, File)

Florida Supreme Court reprimands judge for conduct during Parkland school shooting trial

Associated Press

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz glances at Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill during jury selection in the penalty phase of his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 6, 2022. Cruz previously plead guilty to all 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the 2018 shootings. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Defense attorneys in Florida school shooting try to withdraw

By Terry Spencer - Associated Press

Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz speaks with Assistant Public Defender Melisa McNeill upon entering the courtroom for jury pre-selection in the penalty phase of the trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Confusion reigns as school shooter’s jury selection moves on

By Terry Spencer and Curt Anderson - Associated Press

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz speaks to his attorney Assistant Public Defender Nawal Bashimam, not shown, during a hearing at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, March 29, 2022. Cruz previously plead guilty to all 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the 2018 shootings. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Parkland, Florida, school shooter’s jury selection begins

By Terry Spencer - Associated Press

Judge: Florida school shooting trial off indefinitely

By CURT ANDERSON - Associated Press

School shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz listens during a calendar call hearing at the Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Cruz is accused of killing of 17 and wounding others in Feb. 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. (Carline Jean /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Parkland suspect allowed to skip hearings ahead of trial

By CURT ANDERSON - Associated Press

Scot Peterson leaves the Broward County Jail after posting bond, Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Peterson, who was the assigned resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has been charged with 11 criminal counts after failing to confront the gunman in the Parkland school massacre. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Scot Peterson, Parkland deputy, released from jail

By Curt Anderson - Associated Press

Former Broward Sheriff's Office deputy Scot Peterson appears in the courtroom for a hearing at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thursday, June 6, 2019. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Ex-deputy in Parkland shooting out of jail on reduced bail

By CURT ANDERSON - Associated Press

Judge: Public defender must represent massacre defendant

By TERRY SPENCER - Associated Press

Broward County Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer listens to testimony during a hearing for Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz at the Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Wednesday May 1, 2019. Cruz was in court for a motion by the Public Defender's Office to withdraw from the case due to Cruz receiving an inheritance that can be used to pay for a private attorney. Nikolas Cruz, who faces the death penalty if convicted. Cruz is accused of killing 17 and wounding 17 in the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Florida massacre defendant’s attorneys to remain for now

By TERRY SPENCER - Associated Press

Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz speaks with his attorney in court for a defense motion at the Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Thursday, April 18, 2019. Cruz is accused of killing 17 and wounding 17 in the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Cruz attorneys want to question his mental counselors alone

By TERRY SPENCER - Associated Press

Attorney, judge argue over Florida school shooting evidence

By TERRY SPENCER - Associated Press

Parkland school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz enters the courtroom for a hearing at the Broward Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. Cruz returned court this week for hearings on the Valentine's Day 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and on accusations he assaulted a corrections officer. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Florida school shooting suspect’s medical records an issue

By CURT ANDERSON - Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2018 file photo, Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz listens during a status check on his case at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Officials say a number of issues could come up in a status hearing on Cruz's death penalty case on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, including the release of evidence and witness interviews by prosecutors to Cruz's defense lawyers. Cruz, 19, is charged with killing 17 people and wounding 17 others in the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Cruz defense seeks more witnesses in Parkland shooting

By CURT ANDERSON - Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018 file photo, Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer, right, speaks to South Florida Sun -Sentinel attorney Dana McElroy at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Scherer was randomly assigned the murder case of Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland, Fla. teenager who admitted killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, and wounding 17 more. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool, File)

Judge’s biggest case: the Parkland school shootings

By RAFAEL OLMEDA - Associated Press

FILE - In this June 8, 2018, file photo, school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz sits in the Broward County courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Much of the hourslong statement given by Florida school shooting suspect Cruz to investigators just after the Valentine’s Day massacre that killed 17 people should be publicly released, a judge ruled Thursday, July 26. (Taimy Alvarez/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Judge: Release Florida school shooting suspect’s statement

By CURT ANDERSON - Associated Press

Judge: Florida school shooting suspect keeps public defender

By CURT ANDERSON - Associated Press