Opinion ID: 1603815
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Article V, section 12, Florida Constitution, was adopted by special election in 1972 and originally provided for removal of a judicial officer for misconduct, but did not specify when the misconduct may have occurred: Upon recommendation of two-thirds of the members of the judicial qualifications commission, the supreme court may order that the justice or judge be disciplined by appropriate reprimand, or be removed from office with termination of compensation for willful or persistent failure to perform his duties or for other conduct unbecoming a member of the judiciary... . Art. V, § 12(d), Fla. Const. (1973). This Court in interpreting this provision held that the Commission lacked authority to investigate a sitting circuit judge's activities that occurred while he held the prior office of judge of a criminal court of record. See State ex rel. Turner v. Earle, 295 So.2d 609 (Fla. 1974). We reasoned that the majority of jurisdictions held that where a constitutional provision authorizes removal for misconduct but does not specify the term of office in which the misconduct must occur then the officer cannot be removed for acts that take place in other than the present term. Subsequent to our decision in Turner, Florida voters approved by general election in 1974 an amendment to section 12 that addressed the issue of when the misconduct may have occurred. Section 12 was amended to read in part: There shall be a judicial qualifications commission vested with jurisdiction to investigate and recommend to the Supreme Court of Florida the removal from office of any justice or judge whose conduct, during term of office or otherwise occurring on or after November 1, 1966, (without regard to the effective date of this section) demonstrates a present unfitness to hold office, and to investigate and recommend the reprimand of a justice or judge whose conduct, during term of office or otherwise occurring on or after November 1, 1966 (without regard to the effective date of this section), warrants such a reprimand. Art. V, § 12(a), Fla. Const. Judge Davey argues that the 1974 amendment was enacted to negate Turner 's holding that a judge cannot be removed for misconduct that took place during a prior term in a different judicial office. Thus, Davey reasons, the misconduct referred to in amended section 12 contemplates only those acts occurring during a prior term of judicial office  not acts occurring outside judicial office. We disagree. The language of section 12 is unambiguous on its face and we conclude that it means just what it says: The Commission may investigate and recommend the removal or reprimand of any judge whose conduct in or outside of office warrants such action. This Court has consistently ruled that pre-judicial conduct may be used as a basis for removal or reprimand of a judge. See, e.g., In re Meyerson, 581 So.2d 581 (Fla. 1991); In re Carnesoltas, 563 So.2d 83 (Fla. 1990); In re Capua, 561 So.2d 574 (Fla. 1990); In re Sturgis, 529 So.2d 281 (Fla. 1988); In re Berkowitz, 522 So.2d 843 (Fla. 1988); In re Byrd, 511 So.2d 958 (Fla. 1987); In re Speiser, 445 So.2d 343 (Fla. 1984). We hold that the Commission has constitutional authority to investigate prejudicial acts and recommend to this Court the removal (for unfitness) or reprimand (for misconduct) of a sitting judge. We conclude that the Commission acted within its authority in the present case in investigating Judge Davey's handling of the Bryant and Breyer cases in order to assess Davey's present fitness as a judge.