"See No Evil, Hear No Evil" Broward County Court Chief Quits Post; Follows The Money By Hopping Aboard Recently-Slammed Foreclosure Mill

In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, The Examiner reports:

• In a move that is sure to stun the legal community, Broward County Circuit Court Judge Victor Tobin has notified Governor Rick Scott of his intent to resign as a Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit effective June 30, 2011.
• In an after-hours e-mail sent to all judges, judicial assistants, and the court administrator, Judge Tobin stated:
  
  Late this afternoon, I notified Governor Scott that I would be resigning as a Circuit Court Judge effective June 30, 2011. Effective July 1, 2011, I will return to private practice with the Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson. I wish to express my sincere thanks to each judge for permitting me the honor of being your Chief Judge during the last four years. I appreciate the confidence you placed in me.
  
  Vic Tobin
  
• On March 25th, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a settlement against attorney Marshall C. Watson and his law firm for alleged improprieties in the prosecution of foreclosure cases throughout Florida. The Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson is one of the largest foreclosure firms in Florida.
• The settlement is a first of its kind and stems from an investigation into the alleged deceptive practices of Florida foreclosure mills. It calls for a $2 million payment and imposition of certain requirements to conduct business. $1 million of that payment will be contributed to the Florida Bar Foundation to continue the Florida Attorney General Mortgage Foreclosure Grant Program.

For more, see Broward Chief Judge Vic Tobin Quits - Joins Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson.

See also:

• Broward/Palm Beach New Times: Before Joining Foreclosure Firm, Broward's Chief Judge Created a System That Favors Banks,
• The Palm Beach Post: Broward chief judge joining foreclosure firm; Palm Beach chief judge says more judges may resign.

For an earlier post referencing Judge Vic Tobin, see Fort Lauderdale-Area Court System Not Immune To 'Kangaroo-Itis' In Foreclosure Actions As Local Chief Judge Takes "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" Posture.