A Fine Line

The Florida Supreme Court has reprimanded and fined a judge for campaign violations.

The judge purchased a table at a Republican Party event, left out “for” prior to the office she sought in campaign material (which is required of non-incumbants) and accepted funds fron her spouse.

Justice Lewis in dissent decried the use of large fines as a sanction

While I recognize that this Court has the authority to impose fines for ethical violations committed by judges and judicial candidates, I continue to oppose the utilization of large fines to punish serious violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct. See In re Pando, 903 So. 2d 902, 904-05 (Fla. 2005) (Lewis, J., specially concurring); In re Kinsey, 842 So. 2d 77, 99 (Fla. 2003) (Lewis, J., concurring in part, dissenting in part). Faith and confidence in our judicial system is rooted in the ability to rely upon the integrity and independence of our judges. That confidence is severely undermined when an ethical transgression of a judge or judicial candidate is so severe that it justifies the imposition of a fine of this magnitude.

(Mike Frisch)