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344. ABCs of judging

By Joel Jacobsen

We met Florida's Judge Michael E. Allen in post 272.  He got in trouble with the otherwise-rational Florida Judicial Qualification Commission by poaching on its turf.  As the Commission explained in its complaint, it's unethical for a judge to let the public know about what goes behind the smooth blond wood paneling  of its appellate courts, because the judge is supposed to tell the Commission instead.  Of course, there's larger issues at stake, too.  Like: letting the public know what really goes on in its courts would tend to diminish public confidence.  It's striking that the Commission doesn't contend that Judge Allen said anything false, or even inaccurate.  The supposed ethical violation is simply that he said it about his colleague, in contravention of the convention of unctuous displays of brotherly (well, brethrenly) esteem...continue to full post

Full post as published by Judging Crimes on February 13, 2008 (boomark / email).