Clayton Bowers Studstill, a lawyer, potentially suffered from COVID-19 delirium when he interacted with a sequestered witness during a trial. An ethics referee from the Florida Bar, James A. Yancey, suggested dropping charges against him, citing medical evidence and expert testimony that indicated he was in an 'acute confusional state.' Though his actions violated court orders, the exceptional circumstances surrounding his health at the time suggest a significant mitigating factor in his conduct.
Studstill's behavior violated the judge's order of sequestration and ethical duty to the court, yet 'a whole lot of oddities' make a difference in the case.
Medical records indicated that Studstill was in an 'acute confusional state and executive function disturbance' likely due to COVID-19, supporting claims of delirium.
The officer agreed that Studstill's mental state at the time contributed to the ethical breach, emphasizing the impact of the COVID-19 infection on his actions.
Ethics charges against Studstill may be dropped as a referee concluded that his wrongful conduct was influenced by potential COVID-19 delirium.
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