A federal administrative law judge was arrested in Florida after authorities say he attacked his wife with a butter knife during a domestic dispute at their Miami home.
Gerald Foulds, 79, who works as an administrative law judge with the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, is accused of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing bodily harm to an elderly person, according to Miami-Dade County court records.
The incident allegedly happened Sunday morning at the couple’s home on SW 17th Street in Miami.
Police responded to a domestic violence call and later learned that Foulds’ wife had gone to a nearby urgent care facility for treatment, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
When officers spoke with the woman, she told them she had been married to Foulds for more than 14 years and that the couple lived together. She also said they did not have children together.
According to the affidavit, the woman claimed there had been previous physical altercations between them, but she had never reported those incidents to police.
The woman allegedly described Foulds as “impulsive, aggressive, and having a drinking problem,” according to the charging document.
Investigators said the couple got into a verbal argument around 6 a.m. that escalated into a physical confrontation.
The woman told police she tried to get away from the argument by going into the kitchen, but Foulds allegedly followed her.
According to the affidavit, Foulds grabbed her by the left shoulder. When she tried to protect herself by blocking him with her arm, he allegedly picked up a butter knife from the kitchen counter and cut her left arm.
After the alleged attack, the woman fled to a neighbor’s house. The neighbor reportedly saw that she was bleeding from her arm and visibly shaking in fear.
Authorities said the neighbor contacted the woman’s ex-husband, with whom she still has a good relationship. The ex-husband then came over and took her to urgent care.
In an interview with police, the ex-husband said he saw dried blood on her hands when he arrived.
The ex-husband also reportedly stopped by the couple’s home to collect some of the woman’s belongings and encountered Foulds. When he asked what happened, Foulds allegedly replied, “We have been fighting.”
Police later found Foulds still at the home and arrested him.
During a custodial interview at the Miami Police Department, Foulds was read his Miranda rights and denied the allegations, according to the affidavit.
The case took a bizarre turn during Foulds’ bond hearing Monday before 11th Judicial Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer.
“You can’t let me go with my own recognizance since I’m a judge?” Foulds asked, according to a courtroom report from NBC Miami.
“What kind of judge are you?” Glazer asked.
“I’m a Medicare administrative law judge for 21 years,” Foulds replied.
But Glazer was not persuaded.
“So, I don’t know, I don’t think so, I’d probably set a bond based on what I read here,” Glazer said, referring to the allegation that the victim had been stabbed with a butter knife.
The judge set Foulds’ bond at $2,500, which was quickly paid. He has since been released from pretrial detention.
Another tense moment came when bond conditions were discussed.
Foulds appeared to object to being kept away from the home, telling the court, “Listen, I’m a judge, I have to have someplace to live, so she sometimes lives there, but she can go over to her son’s house, where she often stays.”
Glazer shut that down.
“I can’t force her out of her house,” the judge said, explaining that an alleged domestic violence victim has a superior right to remain in the home.
Foulds’ next court hearing has not yet been scheduled, according to court records.
At 79 he should not be allowed to continue be a judge. He had no common sense and should be removed from his position. A judge should be able to control himself.