Constitutional Law

Focus on the Family Challenges Florida Judicial Ethics Provision

A state affiliate of James Dobson’s Focus on the Family is urging a federal court to invalidate a provision in the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct that requires judges to recuse themselves in cases where they’ve committed themselves to one side of an issue. The Florida Family Policy Council says the provision is an unconstitutional infringement on the free speech rights of candidates.

The group sued the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission after one judicial candidate refused to answer the group’s questionnaire, which asks candidates to give their opinions on issues including reproductive rights and same-sex marriage, because of the judicial code’s mandate.

Full post as published by ACS Blog on May 31, 2008 (boomark / email).