A Most Disorderly Court

Name: A Most Disorderly Court
Author: Martin A. Dyckman
ISBN: 9780813081656

Scandal and Reform in the Florida Judiciary

by Martin A. Dyckman

Published by: University Press of Florida

Series: The Florida History and Culture Series

A story of scandals, public outrage, and profound reforms during a dark period for the Florida Supreme Court, written by the journalist who exposed the corruption.

226 Pages6.00 × 9.007 b/w photos, notes, bibliography, index

Paperback
9780813081656
Published: June 23, 2026

$24.95

BUY

EPUB
9780813059259
Published: March 30, 2008

(Ebook delivery via Leaf eReader app.)

$18.99

BUY

Description
Authors
Praise
Table of Contents

A compelling story of scandal and reform at the highest levels of state government

In the 1970s, justices on the Florida Supreme Court were popularly elected. But a number of scandals threatened to topple the court until public outrage led to profound reforms and fundamental changes in the way justices were seated.

One justice abruptly retired after being filmed on a high-roller junket to Las Vegas. Two others tried to fix cases in lower courts on behalf of campaign supporters. A fourth destroyed evidence by shredding his copy of a document into "seventeen equal" strips of paper that he then flushed down a toilet.

As the journalist who wrote most of the stories that exposed these events, Martin Dyckman played a key role in revealing the corruption, favoritism, and cronyism then rampant in the court.

A Most Disorderly Court recounts this dark period in Florida politics, when stunning revelations regularly came to light. He also traces the reform efforts that ultimately led to a constitutional amendment providing for the appointment of all Florida's appellate judges, and emphasizes the absolute importance of confidential sources for journalists.

Martin A. Dyckman, retired associate editor of the St. Petersburg Times, is the author of Floridian of His Century: The Courage of Governor LeRoy Collins.

"This is a fascinating account of a sordid chapter in the history of the Florida Supreme Court. It reads more like a novel than a history book; the story is engagingly told and beautifully written."—Ann Piccard, professor emerita, Stetson University
"A nice snapshot of a moment in Florida's history that provides a glimpse of how business and power can corrupt a legal system anywhere."—Elizabeth Dale, University of Florida

“Fast-paced and fascinating.”—Tallahassee Democrat
“In what reads more like a novel than a history book, A Most Disorderly Court recounts a dark period in Florida politics and traces the reform efforts that ultimately led to a constitutional amendment providing for the appointment of all Florida’s appellate judges.”—Florida Bar Journal
“Recounting the complicated web of events and people that comprise this story is no easy task, but Dyckman does an excellent job of establishing historical background while describing complicated legal and legislative issues for a wider audience. . . . A sound piece of investigative journalism and history for all readers and researchers of Florida law and politics.”—Florida Historical Quarterly
“Presents a penetrating and shocking account of a dark period in the history of government and politics in Florida, in general, and the Florida judiciary, in particular.”—Tampa Bay History

Foreword

Chronology/Cast of Characters

Preface and Acknowledgments

1. Seventeen Equal Pieces

2. Justice Dekle’s “Dissent”

3. School for Scandal

4. David McCain, Eagle Scout

5. What’s a Politician to Do?

6. Shadows of Treason

7. Circling the Wagons

8. A “Good Old Boy” Court

9. A Florida Watergate?