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Judiciary Commission of Louisiana
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The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana is a judicial disciplinary agency in Louisiana. The commission investigates judicial misconduct complaints, but is not authorized to discipline judges. The commission must make recommendations to the Louisiana Supreme Court regarding any action to be taken for judicial conduct violations. The supreme court makes the final decision on whether a state judge will be disciplined for misconduct.[1]
The commission is responsible for investigating complaints against state judges and may recommend that the supreme court take action against a judge for any of the following:
- willful misconduct relating to official duty
- willful and persistent failure to perform duty
- persistent and public conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; or which brings the judicial office into disrepute
- conduct while in office which would constitute a felony, or conviction of a felony[1]
Disciplinary recommendations made to the supreme court by the commission may include:
- censure
- suspension with pay
- suspension without pay
- removal from office
- involuntary retirement[1]
Organization
The commission includes nine members who serve terms of four years. Members cannot serve on the commission for successive terms. Commission members include:
- One court of appeal judge and two district court judges, who are chosen by the supreme court
- Two attorneys with 10 or more years of legal experience and one attorney with at least three, but not more than 10 years of legal experience. The attorneys on the commission are selected by the Louisiana Conference of Court of Appeal Judges
- Three members of the public, appointed by the Louisiana District Judges Association[1]
Confidentiality
Documents and evidence used by the commission, as well as any proceedings or hearings held by the commission during the investigation of a misconduct complaint, are kept confidential. If the commission recommends disciplinary action in a specific matter, the commission's recommendation to the supreme court becomes public once it is filed with the court. Records filed by the commission with the court and the proceedings before the court are not confidential.[2]
Governing laws
Authority for the commission can be found in the Louisiana Constitution under Article V, Section 25. In addition, the supreme court's rules also detail the procedures to be used by both the commission and the court in resolving judicial misconduct complaints.[3] The Louisiana Code of Judicial Conduct sets forth the guidelines for the behavior of judges in the state. Complaints may be brought against judges for violations of the code of conduct.[4]
Contact information
Judiciary Commission of Louisiana
Office of Commission Counsel
400 Royal Street, Suite 1213
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Phone: (504) 310-2597
Fax: (504) 310-2596
Email: JudiciaryCommission@lasc.org
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Louisiana Supreme Court, "The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana," accessed May 27, 2014
- ↑ Louisiana Supreme Court, "Rules of the Court, Rule XXIII, section 23," accessed May 27, 2014
- ↑ Rules of the Judiciary Commission of the State of Louisiana, accessed May 27, 2014
- ↑ Louisiana Supreme Court, "Code of Judicial Conduct," accessed May 27, 2014
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