Opinion ID: 1832209
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Charge III: Unauthorized practice of law

Text: Charge III relates to whether Judge Jefferson practiced law in violation of La. R.S. 13:1952(15)(a). [3] Prior to taking office, Judge Jefferson represented the plaintiff in Patterson v. Hutto, Inc., 89-3028. Suit was filed in the matter prior to Judge Jefferson's election and, in a letter dated October 8, 1992, almost two years after Judge Jefferson took office, he wrote a letter to opposing counsel seeking to close the file. The letter stated, [t]he procrastination ... has prolonged the time frame which I had given the judicial administrator's office in regards to finalizing all cases from private practice. This case is and has been the only one lingering for an inordinate period of time. [4] After this correspondence, Judge Jefferson arguably did not engage in any further activity on the case until June 16, 1995, when he signed as plaintiff's attorney a Motion to Dismiss the case. This motion was filed in the Fourth Judicial District Court on May 12, 1997, during the judge's second term of office. Judge Jefferson's ongoing participation as detailed above in the Patterson case for four years after he became judge constituted the unauthorized practice of law. Judge Jefferson's unauthorized behavior in this regard did not comport with the high standards of conduct expected of a judge and called into question the integrity of the judiciary. Therefore, this behavior violated Canon 1 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Additionally, such unauthorized practice of law violated an express statutory provision prohibiting him from practicing law during his tenure as a Monroe City Court judge, La. R.S. 13:1952(15)(a), and was a direct violation of Canon 2(A). Judge Jefferson's unauthorized practice of law similarly violated Canon 3(A)(1), which requires a judge to be faithful to the law and maintain professional competence in it. Finally, the judge's unauthorized practice of law constituted willful misconduct relating to his official conduct as it violated a statutory prohibition. For all the above reasons, we conclude that Judge Jefferson's unauthorized handling of the Patterson case violated Canons 1, 2, and 3 A of the Code of Judicial Conduct and constituted willful misconduct relating to the judge's official duty in violation of La. Const. Art. V, § 25(C).