Title: In Re Inquiry Concerning a Judge Pratt

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

508 So. 2d 8 (1987)
In re INQUIRY CONCERNING a JUDGE, re: Linda Raspolich PRATT.
No. 69671.

Supreme Court of Florida.
June 4, 1987.
*9 Kathleen T. Phillips, Chairman and John S. Rawls, General Counsel, Tallahassee and Richard L. Hersch, Special Counsel for the Florida Judicial Qualifications Com'n, Coral Gables, for petitioner.
Joseph C. Jacobs of Ervin, Varn, Jacobs, Odom & Kitchen, Tallahassee, for respondent.
PER CURIAM.
We have for review the Judicial Qualifications Commission's uncontested report recommending that Judge Linda Raspolich Pratt be publicly reprimanded. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 12, Fla. Const.
The Commission found that Pratt:
Based on these facts, the Commission found Pratt in violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 1 (duty to maintain high standard of judicial conduct to preserve judicial integrity and independence), Canon 2(A) (duty of judge to respect and comply with law and conduct himself in manner which promotes public confidence in judicial integrity and impartiality), and Canon 7(b) (duty of judicial candidate to maintain dignity appropriate to judicial office and not misrepresent any fact); the Code of Professional Responsibility,[1] Disciplinary Rules 1-102(A) (conduct violating a disciplinary rule, conduct involving misrepresentation) and 2-102(A) (use of a professional notice or device containing a false, fradulent, misleading, or deceptive statement); as well as section 105.071, Florida Statutes (1985).[2]
*10 The Commission made the following recommendations:
We approve the Commission's findings and recommendation of discipline. Accordingly, we hereby publicly reprimand Judge Linda Raspolich Pratt and forewarn future candidates of non-partisan elections that more severe disciplinary measures may be imposed for such violations.
It is so ordered.
McDONALD, C.J., and OVERTON, EHRLICH, SHAW, BARKETT and KOGAN, JJ., concur.
[1]  The Code of Professional Responsibility has been superceded by the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar, effective January 1, 1987. The Florida Bar Re Rules Regulating the Florida Bar, 494 So. 2d 977 (Fla. 1986).
[2]  Section 105.071 provides in pertinent part:

A candidate for judicial office shall not:
.....
(2) Campaign as a member of any political party.
(3) Publicly represent or advertise himself as a member of any political party.
(4) Endorse any candidate.
.....
(10) Make any contribution to any person, group, or organization for its endorsement to judicial office.
(11) Agree to pay all or any part of any advertisement sponsored by any group, person, or organization wherein the candidate may be endorsed for judicial office by any such person, group, or organization.