Ex-judicial candidate disciplined for disparaging comments about Muslims, LGBTQ community

A former judicial candidate was disciplined late last week for posting disparaging comments about Muslims and the LGBTQ community on Facebook and Twitter. 

The Florida Supreme Court issued a 91-day suspension for Donald McBath on Friday along with 15 other attorneys, according to a release from the Florida Bar. 

The release says McBath “as a judicial candidate, made written and oral statements concerning his political affiliations and his views of classes of parties and issues that were hate-filled, unprofessional and inappropriate.”

McBath, a family lawyer who retired in 2018, posted 15 comments that attacked minority groups, criticized abortion and berated “the left” and “liberals” as well as backing President Trump’s travel ban, according to the complaint reviewed by The Tampa Bay Times. These comments included “never trust a Muslim” and, regarding homosexuality, “Abstain, if you really have that mental illness. It’s not love.”

The family lawyer’s Twitter bio said he is a “100% Trump supporter #MAGA; #KAG; proud DEPLORABLE; Pro-God; Christian; Pro-Life; Pro-Gun; Anti-Sharia; Constitutional Conservative; Former Major US Army,” the Times reported.

McBath ran for a seat in the Sixth Judicial Circuit last year and lost to former prosecutor Doneene Loar. He confirmed to the Times that the comments were his during the campaign but said the remarks would not affect his objectivity in court.

The state Supreme Court also reportedly fined McBath $1,386.