Following a four-week leave of absence, Brevard County Court Judge John Murphy is back at work.
Murphy is accused of punching Andrew Weinstock, a public defender, on June 2.
Chief Judge John M. Harris released a statement Friday, June 27, stating he has met with Murphy on "several occasions."
Harris said Murphy will be reassigned from criminal cases to handling civil cases.
"This reassignment is done to promote the efficient administration of justice and is not intended to be any form of discipline, as Florida's Rules of Judicial Administration do not provide chief judges any disciplinary authority over other duly elected constitutional officers," Harris said in a statement. "Judge Murphy, who has been receiving anger management counseling since the incident on June 2, 2014, is in full agreement with this reassignment and has further agreed to continue his anger management counseling indefinitely."
Things got heated between Weinstock and Murphy when the two were discussing whether Weinstock wanted to waive his right to a speedy trial.
Judge John Murphy is hearing civil cases instead of criminal cases. The cases Monday include a divorce and eviction case, a couple of them by phone.
The Florida Bar said June 10 that it planned on opening an investigation into Weinstock in connection to the courtroom argument.
Murphy recently released a letter of apology, saying in part:
"There may not be words enough to express the regret I have over my actions; not because of the consequences to me but because it was wrong and may have tarnished the reputation of the entire judiciary. I am committed to continuing personal improvement so that I can win back the confidence of you, the people of Brevard County who elected me and bestowed upon me the honor to serve."