Opinion ID: 1099683
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: proceedings before the judiciary commission

Text: Judge Hunter assumed her office on October 8, 1996. On September 11, 2000, New Orleans District Attorney Harry Connick filed a complaint against Judge Hunter with the Judiciary Commission. Mr. Connick reported that several convictions obtained by his office had shortly before been reversed by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal due to the inability of Judge Hunter's court reporters to provide a complete transcript of trial proceedings. Judge Hunter responded to Mr. Connick's complaint by letter dated October 3, 2000, placing the blame for the inadequate or missing transcripts on the court reporters who worked in her court, Section C of the Criminal District Court. After an initial inquiry into the complaint, the Commission notified Judge Hunter on October 1, 2001, that further investigation had been authorized in the matter. On March 19, 2002, while the Commission's investigation was proceeding, this court appointed retired Judge Jerome M. Winsberg as Supernumerary Judge pro tempore of Section C. By this appointment, Judge Winsberg temporarily assumed full and complete authority to discharge any and all administrative functions of Section C for the period of this Order, [2] and Judge Hunter was relieved of all administrative duties and responsibilities relating to her office. This court then issued an order dated March 22, 2002, directing the Commission to conduct a preliminary hearing to determine whether there was probable cause to suspend Judge Hunter on an interim basis for failing to exercise her administrative responsibilities in a competent and/or professional manner. Pursuant to the court's order of March 22, 2002, the Commission conducted a preliminary hearing on April 19, April 20, May 17, and May 18, 2002. On April 23, 2002, after the first two days of the preliminary hearing were concluded, the Commission filed formal charges against Judge Hunter in case No. 0177, alleging that she failed to supervise her staff competently, failed to supervise competently the preparation of the minutes of her section of court, failed to supervise competently the preparation of trial transcripts and the preparation of records on appeal, and failed to cooperate fully with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal responsive to orders from that court to produce transcripts of proceedings conducted in Section C, to the extent that the Fourth Circuit has held Judge Hunter in contempt of court. Following the preliminary hearing, the Commission issued a recommendation of suspension, and on June 12, 2002, this court unanimously ordered that Judge Hunter be suspended pending further proceedings. In re Hunter, 02-1543 (La.6/12/02), 821 So.2d 479. The Commission conducted a hearing on the formal charge on June 14 and 15, 2002, and filed its recommendation of discipline in this court on July 18, 2002. The Commission found that the allegations asserted in the charge had been proved by clear and convincing evidence, and further made numerous findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Commission ultimately concluded that Judge Hunter violated Canon 3B(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct both by her utter failure to administer competently Section C of Orleans Criminal District Court and by her lack of cooperation with the Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit. The Commission recommended to this court that Judge Hunter be removed from judicial office.