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

While individual judges set dress codes in their courtrooms, those rules usually focus on maintaining decorum rather than banning religious attire
PUBLISHED MAR 23, 2025
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 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 22:  (AFP OUT) Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a meeting
Pam Bondi speaks during a meeting with President Donald Trump and state and local officials on school safety at The White House on February 22, 2018, in Washington, DC (Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images

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.

(X/@StThomasLaw)
Judge Orlando Prescott of Florida (X/@StThomasLaw)

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.

MORE STORIES

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats blocked the GOP's eighth attempt to reopen the government
3 hours ago
California already allows trans athletes to compete in school sports based on their gender identity
6 hours ago
Pete Hegseth says 'Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right' as top outlets reject new media restrictions and risk losing credentials
1 day ago
Donald Trump said a very wealthy donor offered to personally cover troop pay if government shutdown funds fall short
1 day ago
The six people are from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, and South Africa
1 day ago
President Donald Trump blamed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for the shutdown and confirmed ending several Democrat-backed federal programs
3 days ago
Donald Trump criticized Chuck Schumer over the shutdown and said he directed Pete Hegseth to use funds to ensure troops are paid on October 15
4 days ago
Several progressives who have long called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have not yet commented on the agreement’s terms or timeline
6 days ago
Trump posted a scathing montage, accusing Democrats of shutting down the government to please their 'radical left' base
7 days ago
John Kennedy is calling out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the tough spot he’s in amid government shutdown
7 days ago