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Anna Nicole paternity judge promises to stop smoking pot
By Hempology | June 17, 2007
Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale
15 Jun 2007
Tonya Alanez
BROWARD JUDGE IN POT-SMOKING CASE RETIRES
FORT LAUDERDALE – Three months after being cited for smoking marijuana in a public park, a Broward County judge has announced his retirement.
Circuit Judge Lawrence L. Korda, who has been on voluntary paid leave, will formally leave the bench July 2.
In a June 11 letter of retirement addressed to Gov. Charlie Crist, Korda wrote: “It has been my honor to serve the Court and the State for over thirty years.”
Korda’s attorney, Mike Dutko, said Thursday the Family Court judge has been contemplating retirement for the last few years, but “recent events have factored into his decision to retire now.”
Three police officers said they saw Korda smoking a joint under a tree in a Hollywood park. Korda was ticketed, only disclosing he was a judge when asked his profession, according to Hollywood police. A police report indicated Korda was near about 15 children when he was ticketed.
Upon retirement, Korda, 59, plans to do private family-mediation work, Dutko said.
Korda’s marijuana case gained national attention because it came just three weeks after he briefly handled part of the paternity battle over Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter.
Last month, Korda reached an agreement with prosecutors on the case.
The misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge will be dismissed in November if Korda stays clean during six months of random drug testing and performs 25 hours of community service. He already finished a drug and alcohol awareness course that was part of the agreement reached with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, which Gov. Charlie Crist specially assigned to prosecute the case. If Korda fails a drug test, he will have to face the charge and possible jail time.
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