Jeffrey Alan Norkin, a disbarred Broward attorney, was ordered by the Florida Supreme Court to serve time in jail for continuing to practice law despite his permanent disbarment. According to NBC Miami, the court unanimously decided to uphold a recommendation that Norkin be held in contempt, imposing a 60-day sentence with the provision of 50 days being suspended should Norkin successfully complete five months of probation.
The court stated, "This (Supreme) Court has exhausted all sanction options other than ordering a period of incarceration." It was noted by the Sun Sentinel that though a referee initially recommended a 10-day jail sentence for Norkin, the Florida Bar argued it was insufficient given his pattern of misconduct, leading to the harsher sentence handed down by the court. Norkin was originally suspended in 2013 for his behavior in court, which was described as "acting in an ‘unprofessional and antagonistic manner during the course of litigating a civil case," and then was permanently disbarred in 2015 for continuing to act as an attorney against the orders of the Florida Bar. Despite these sanctions, he persisted in practicing law, and last year, he pleaded no contest to a charge of unlicensed practice of law.
The court expressed deep frustration with Norkin's conduct, stating, "Norkin has shown a blatant disregard for the authority of the courts, including this (Supreme) Court, by his refusal to abide by their and our orders," as reported by NBC Miami. "This is part of a larger pattern of disrespect for the courts, opposing counsel, and the judicial system as a whole that relates back to the initial misconduct that resulted in his suspension."
Along with incarceration and probation, the Supreme Court has ordered Norkin to undergo a psychological evaluation.
