Fact Check: Did a judge punish Pam Bondi for wearing a cross necklace in court?

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: A series of videos have gone viral claiming that a judge tried to slap US Attorney General Pam Bondi with a fine for wearing a cross necklace in court.

But Bondi allegedly wasn’t about to let that slide. Instead, she allegedly fired back, citing laws that protected her right to wear the religious symbol and turning what should have been a routine hearing into an all-out courtroom brawl, according to the claim.

Fact check: It never happened

One of the most popular videos online painted a picture of the purported showdown in its caption. "Pam Bondi walked into court expecting a routine hearing — until Judge Prescott fined her for wearing a cross. What happened next turned a simple case into a legal showdown that had the entire courtroom watching," it began.

"Pam refused to back down, challenging the judge's ruling in real time and exposing the flaw in his argument. But the fight didn't end there. The next day, Prescott struck back, filing a formal complaint against her, hoping to silence her through the system. What he didn't expect? Pam was ready for him," the caption continued.

"As the story gained traction, legal experts, journalists, and the public weighed in, putting the judge under intense scrutiny. Would he get away with his actions, or was this the moment his power began to crumble? Watch the full story to find out how Pam turned the tables in a battle that went far beyond one courtroom," it added.

Despite the slick storytelling, there is no evidence that such an incident ever took place. No major news outlets covered the supposed courtroom clash, which would have been a bombshell considering Bondi’s high-profile status, Snopes confirmed.

And as for the mysterious "Judge Prescott," there’s no record of a judge by that name going after Bondi—or anyone else—for wearing religious jewelry in court.

Some versions of the video even swapped out the judge’s name and location, tweaking minor details while keeping the same overarching narrative. The core story remained unchanged about Bondi vs a judge who allegedly tried to penalize her for her faith.

The real Judge Prescott and the controversy that wasn't

Interestingly, there is a Judge Orlando Prescott in Florida—specifically in Miami-Dade County, according to Ballotpedia. However, he had absolutely nothing to do with this rumor. There’s no record of him ever fining or even attempting to fine Bondi for her cross.

It seems the reason this fake story took off was because Pam Bondi is often seen wearing a cross in public. But legally speaking, there’s no rule stopping her—or anyone else—from wearing religious symbols in a courtroom.

While individual judges set dress codes in their courtrooms, those rules usually focus on maintaining decorum rather than banning religious attire.

For example, the guidelines are pretty straightforward in Tampa, Florida—requiring only "proper attire" without any mention of religious symbols, per The Marshall Project.

The AI giveaway

It's worth noting that the videos spreading the claim were loaded with telltale signs of AI-generated content.

One clip featured what looked like an AI-crafted image of Bondi alongside the so-called judge, complete with robotic movements and an awkwardly stiff posture. Her mouth barely moved, and her voice was nowhere to be heard. Instead, a narrator took over to spin the tale as if it were a true crime documentary.

Even the background characters in these videos looked off—blurred faces, strange eye alignments, and all the classic markers of poorly rendered AI imagery.

A quick dive into the sources reveals a few repeat offenders. YouTube channels like Elite Stories and Yasir Experience—both notorious for posting wild, AI-generated tales—were among the biggest promoters of this Bondi fiction.

However, they have included a rather self-explanatory disclaimer in their captions.

"The stories presented on this channel are entirely fictional and crafted solely for entertainment. Any resemblance to real events, individuals, or situations is purely coincidental and unintentional. These narratives are not intended to depict, reference, or represent any actual occurrences, persons, or entities," the disclaimer reads.