Judicial Recusal for Activities of a Spouse
Many married couples exemplify the adage “what’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine.” It’s an expression of generosity meaning that things belong to both parties equally and that …
Florida Supreme Court Amends Continuing Education Requirements For Judicial Ethics Courses
On February 2, 2023, the Supreme Court of Florida, on its own motion, removed the terms “fairness” and “diversity” from the course topics that judges in Florida may use to …
Louisiana Legislature Amends the Civil and Criminal Code Articles on Judicial Recusal
The Louisiana Legislature again amended the civil and criminal code articles governing the recusal of district court judges. The amendments became effective on August 1, 2022. Here are the main …
Judge Disciplined for Sending Ex Parte Facebook Messages to Party in Case Pending Before Him
The Louisiana Supreme Court suspended a Denham Springs judge for four months for engaging in ex parte communications via Facebook Messenger with a party in a case pending before him …
Louisiana Supreme Court Permits Baton Rouge Judge to Remain On Bench Despite Age-Limit Dispute
On January 28, 2022, the Louisiana Supreme Court held in a 4-3 split decision that a city judge could remain in office despite exceeding the age limit set by the …
New Advisory Opinion on Judges Attending a Spouses Political Events
The Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee recently published an opinion providing guidance for judges when their spouse is running for elected office. See JEC Opinion 2022-01 (2022). The brief opinion considers …
Louisiana Legislature Expands Statutory Grounds for Recusing Judges
On August 1, 2021, an act amending and reenacting the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure articles governing judicial recusal became law. See La. Code Civ. Proc. arts. 151 et seq. …
Louisiana Supreme Court Amends Rule XXIII
On November 19, 2021, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued an order adopting several revisions to Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XXIII, The Judiciary Commission. See LASC Order (dated Nov. 19, 2021). …
Judge Given “Public Warning” for Refusing to Perform Same-Sex Marriages
On November 12, 2019, the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct “publicly warned” a judge who performed opposite-sex marriages, but who “declined to perform same-sex weddings.” More particularly, the judge …
Judicial Recusal From Cases Involving Friends, Acquaintances, and Closer Relations
In September 2019, the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility issued a formal opinion entitled Judges’ Social or Close Personal Relationships with Lawyers or Parties as Grounds for …