Opinion ID: 1700407
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: count 3a

Text: On September 25, 1970, Richard Nell, a union official, was convicted of bribery. He appealed his conviction to the Second District Court of Appeal where the case was heard on June 10, 1971 by Chief Judge Pierce and Judges Mann and McNulty. In July, 1972, McCain, while a Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, and while the Nell case was pending in the district court, called Judge McNulty about the case. Prior to making the call, McCain had been notified that he was going to be supported in his race for re-election to the Supreme Court by the International Union of Operating Engineers, the labor organization which Nell headed. McCain admits making the call to Judge McNulty, admits that the call concerned the Nell case, and admits that the call was made on behalf of Nell and their common friends and supporters. A factual issue is joined because McCain testified that he could not recall whether or not he asked Judge McNulty to reverse the conviction. Judge McNulty testified, however, that it was his clear impression that during the conversation McCain asked for a reversal of the case. William Haddad, Clerk of the Second District Court of Appeal, who at the time of the McCain call was a research aide to Judge McNulty, was present during the disputed telephone conversation and testified that Judge McNulty was upset about the call and told him that Judge McCain was trying to influence the decision of the court. The opinion of the Second District Court of Appeal was filed in the Nell case on September 6, 1972, affirming the conviction, with then Chief Judge Pierce dissenting. Nell v. State, 266 So.2d 404 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1972). Prior to the filing of that opinion, Judge McNulty reported the McCain call to his associate, Judge Mann. On September 20, 1972, a Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed with the Supreme Court of Florida on behalf of Nell and the others convicted with him. Oral argument was heard on February 16, 1973. The records of the Supreme Court indicate that the file reached McCain on April 5, 1973, the other Justices having voted to reverse the District Court by a vote of four to two. McCain also voted for reversal. Nell v. State, 277 So.2d 1 (Fla. 1973). Judges Mann and McNulty were upset when they learned that McCain had participated in the decision, and one of them reported the matter to a member of the Judicial Qualifications Commission. As to this count, the Referee found: When Justice McCain contracted Judge McNulty by telephone, he willfully and intentionally attempted to tamper with the administration of justice by making an effort to influence the decision of the Second District Court of Appeal in the Nell case. In doing so, McCain committed this act with the corrupt motive of attempting to retain and improve upon the political support he expected from the union, of which Nell was the chief executive. This violation of the ethics of his profession was so gross in nature, that I find that it bears upon his current fitness to practice law.