Press Release
Broward County, FL – July 10, 2025 – Senior Assistant Attorney General Michele Wilcox-Petrites of Florida has come under scrutiny following serious allegations that she knowingly provided false information to a Broward County judge—both in oral argument and in written filings—leading to what plaintiffs describe as improperly imposed court sanctions.
The misconduct allegations are tied to an ongoing civil suit in which the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) stands accused of violently removing a child without legal authority, using what plaintiffs claim was a fabricated court order. That incident, according to the lawsuit, was also recorded on video. In the fallout from that event, Wilcox-Petrites, acting as legal counsel for DCF, is now accused of compounding the harm by misrepresenting the scope of discovery obligations in court proceedings.
According to a complaint filed with The Florida Bar, Wilcox-Petrites falsely claimed that the plaintiffs had been required to disclose “all lawsuits,” including cases in federal court, such as a prior bankruptcy filing. However, the actual interrogatory—Interrogatory No. 3—requested disclosure only of state-level legal matters limited to family, dependency, civil, and criminal proceedings. Plaintiffs allege that this misstatement was not a mere error, but a deliberate fabrication made to justify a request for monetary sanctions.
The transcript from the June 18, 2025 hearing shows the judge relying on Wilcox-Petrites’ representation, asking, “So he provided everything except for that bankruptcy?” before ordering the sanctions. The plaintiffs maintain that the bankruptcy was never within the scope of the discovery request, and that Wilcox-Petrites’ statement created a false basis for punishment.
The complaint asserts that Wilcox-Petrites’ conduct may violate Rule 4-3.3(a)(1) of the Florida Bar rules, which prohibits attorneys from making knowingly false assertions of fact in court. It also raises concerns that her conduct could fall under the statutory definition of “official misconduct” under Florida Statutes § 838.022(1)(a), which criminalizes the falsification of official court records by public officials acting with corrupt intent.
Plaintiffs further argue that her written submission—certified under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.515—constituted a false certification of accuracy and therefore compounded the violation.
A formal request has been made for disciplinary review, potential criminal contempt proceedings, and a referral to law enforcement for further investigation. The Florida Bar has confirmed receipt of the complaint and has initiated its standard review process.
