Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat


Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat was a Cuban-American politician and judge. He was a one-term member of the Florida House of Representatives representing a district in West Miami for the Republican Party from 1994 until his defeat in 1998. He served as a Judge of the Criminal and Family Divisions of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida from 2011 until his retirement in 2017.

Early life and education

Rodriguez-Chomat was born in Havana and was active in the Cuban-American lobby. He attended high school briefly, but dropped out to support his family. He was educated at St. Thomas University and served in the U.S. Army Reserve. Rodriguez-Chomat went on to work as an accountant, an IRS agent and a tax lawyer before winning office as a lawmaker and later serving as a judge.

Career

In 2013, Rodriguez-Chomat was the subject of a viral video after a teenage girl arrested on drugs charges giggled throughout her bond hearing and flippantly told Rodriguez-Chomat "adios" as she walked off. He responded by calling her back and doubling her bond amount. After the girl, Penelope Soto, angrily replied by saying "F*** you", and gave him the middle finger, he sentenced her to 30 days imprisonment for contempt of court, bidding her "adios". After she apologized at a hearing 4 days later, he withdrew the contempt citations and urged her to seek drug counselling.

Death

Rodriguez-Chomat died on August 19, 2017 after a long battle with prostate cancer at age 72. He was survived by his wife, Susanita Ferro Rodriguez-Chomat and his children and stepchildren.