In 2020, Judge Mavel Ruiz admitted to judicial misconduct and “regrets” that her conduct damaged the impartiality of the judiciary.
"Admitted that their conduct was inappropriate and violated the Canons, and they regret that their conduct damaged the impartiality of the judiciary."
Source: Supreme Court of Florida, Stipulation of Hon. Mavel Ruiz, in Inquiry Concerning a Judge, No. 2018-572, Filing #94254643
"Judge Ruiz now acknowledges the signing... was inappropriate and crossed the line from being informational to lending the prestige of her position to advance the private interests..."
Source: Supreme Court of Florida, Stipulation of Hon. Mavel Ruiz, in Inquiry Concerning a Judge, No. 2018-572, Filing #94254643
"Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission Rules, the Judicial Qualifications Commission Investigative Panel served a notice of investigation on the respondents and subsequently conducted an investigative hearing... probable cause existed for the filing for formal charges..."
Source: Supreme Court of Florida, Judicial Qualifications Inquiry, Concerning Judge Mavel Ruiz Case No. 2018-572, Filing #94254643
"In February 2019, the letter was mentioned in a local newspaper article entitled 'Alleged conflicts of interest roil $500 million child welfare fight.'"
Source: Supreme Court of Florida, Judicial Qualifications Inquiry, Concerning Judge Mavel Ruiz Case No. 2018-572, Filing #94254643
Two sworn Florida Elections Commission complaints accuse Judge Mavel Ruiz’s campaign of accepting contributions above the legal limit for a circuit court judicial candidate — including alleged excessive contributions from Colson Hicks Eidson and attorney Michael Davis.
Source: Florida Elections Commission Complaints, Jeshua Araoz vs. Mavel Ruiz, sworn June 6, 2026
Judge Mavel Ruiz failed to follow proper procedure and denied the defendant his constitutional rights.
"He contends that the trial court never conducted a colloquy of him on the issue. Thus, the evidence the State presented at trial was insufficient as a matter of law to establish that Presha was a convicted felon. Consequently, he contends that the State failed to establish a crime was committed, which was fundamental error requiring a reversal and remand to the trial court for it to enter a judgement of acquittal. We agree."
Judge Mavel Ruiz failed to follow proper procedure thereby denying the defendant his constitutional rights.
Source: Third District Court of Appeal, No. 3D23-2254, Lower Tribunal No. F21-14215
In 2026, Judge Mavel Ruiz “effectively eviscerated” a person’s property…which constitutes an abuse of discretion.”
"This constitutes an abuse of discretion... the trial court's order did not comply with the basic requirements of the rule under which the receivership was sought... It failed to specify the reasons for the entry... explain the urgency of any basis to enter it without due process... This was error."
Source: Third District Court of Appeal, No. 3D25-1904, Lower Tribunal No. 25-13194-CA-01, An Appeal from a non-final order the Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, Daryl E. Trawick and Mavel Ruiz, Judges.
Countless findings. Dozens of reversals. Property rights eviscerated, abuse of discretion. These are not mistakes. They are a pattern of abusing one’s power.
