Florida Supreme Court Grants Petition Alleging Judicial Misconduct,in the Ninth Judicial Circuit
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ORLANDO, Fla. - Washingtoner -- By Folksalert

In a rare and decisive move, the Florida Supreme Court, Case No. SC2025-0317, has granted an amended petition filed by pro se litigant and FolksAlert podcast host Rayon Payne, who alleges widespread judicial misconduct and systemic constitutional violations stemming from Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit and the Sixth District Court of Appeal.

The Court's March 14, 2025 order marked a highly unusual step—especially for a pro se litigant. After Payne filed his original petition and multiple supplements, the Court issued a directive: consolidate all filings into a single, comprehensive petition and attach it to a formal motion to amend. This level of procedural guidance is extraordinarily rare and signals the Court is actively engaged with the gravity of the issues raised. Payne complied, submitting a unified filing supported by over 700 pages of appendix material. The Florida Supreme Court has since granted the motion and placed the case under formal review.

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Payne's amended petition details a deeply troubling pattern of obstruction, fraud upon the court, and procedural manipulation by judges, attorneys, and institutions. At the center is Jermaine Carlos Diaz, also known as "Young Lace"—a two-time convicted child sex trafficker and registered lifetime sex offender—who used platforms like Instagram to promote and glamorize his criminal lifestyle. As a journalist and podcast host, Payne reported on Diaz's conduct, which sparked a 2019 lawsuit led by attorney Eric LaRue, who is now a central figure in the petition.

Judges named in the petition include Chief Judge Lisa Munyon, for permitting procedural abuse and declining to intervene despite clear evidence of misconduct. Judge Patricia Strowbridge, who stated on the record that she would not consider binding admissions and, when corrected on the law by Payne, told him to "seek legal advice."

The petition also highlights Navy Federal Credit Union, a federally chartered and regulated institution, for filing false and misleading statements in court to hide its financial relationship with Diaz. The filing questions how much illicit money—potentially linked to human trafficking—may have passed through Diaz's Navy Federal accounts.

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Two high-profile law firms are also named Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, which represented attorney Shannon Ramos in a California domestic violence case involving Payne. The California appellate court later reversed the ruling due to lack of evidence. That reversal became the basis for Payne's lawsuit in Florida. Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford P.A., implicated in enabling due process violations and advancing filings that allegedly furthered constitutional harm.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal is accused of enabling the trial court's actions and exceeding its authority by ruling on matters of constitutional and judicial misconduct without jurisdiction—thereby shielding the trial court from accountability.

"This isn't just about one litigant," Payne said. "This is about whether justice is real or conditional—whether courts protect the Constitution or the people who violate it. If judges can ignore wrongdoing, and appellate courts won't correct it, then what chance does anyone have?"

Legal observers, watchdog groups, and civil rights advocates are watching the case closely. The Florida Supreme Court's response could reshape judicial accountability and set national precedent.

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