Opinion ID: 1612465
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Political organization

Text: ¶ 12. Beginning with the Commission's finding that Judge Osborne violated Canon 5(A)(1)(a) by maintaining membership in, attending meetings of, and promoting the agenda of a political organization, we need not address Judge Osborne's constitutional argument. [3] Based on the record before us, Judge Osborne's attendance before the Greenwood Voters League did not violate section 5(A)(1)(a), or any other section of the canons. [4] Canon 5(A)(1) reads in full, as follows: Except as authorized in Sections 5B(2), 5C(1) and 5C(2), a judge or candidate for election to judicial office shall not: (a) act as a leader or hold an office in a political organization; (b) make speeches for a political organization or candidate or publicly endorse a candidate for public office; (c) solicit funds for or pay an assessment or make a contribution to a political organization or candidate, attend political gatherings, or purchase tickets for political party dinners, or other political functions. (Emphasis added.) ¶ 13. The Commission's finding rests solely on what transpired during rebuttal at the formal hearing for this matter. A committee member queried counsel for Judge Osborne about the Greenwood Voters League. The attorney explained he thought it could be fairly characterized as a non-dues, political organization that meets weekly. When the committee member asked how one becomes a member, the attorney responded, Just by attending a meeting. The committee member then asked if Judge Osborne therefore was a member. The attorney said, Yes. No further questions were asked about the Voters League. ¶ 14. The Commission has misinterpreted and misapplied Canon 5. The canon does not prohibit membership per se in a political organization. [5] Rather, as denoted by section 5A(1) and its subsections, the canon prohibits judicial incumbents and judicial candidates alike from engaging in certain inappropriate political activity normally associated with such organizations. See also sections 5B(2), 5C(1), 5C(2) and 5D. ¶ 15. There is no evidence in the record that Judge Osborne acted as a leader for, or held an office in, the Greenwood Voters League, in violation of section 5A(1)(a). Likewise, there is no indication that Judge Osborne was making a speech on behalf of the Voters League, as prohibited by section 5A(1)(b). Additionally, although Judge Osborne admittedly attended political gathering, ordinarily a violation under 5A(1)(c), the record evinces only that he was there as a judicial candidate running for reelection. Section 5C(1) expressly permits incumbent judges to attend and speak to political gatherings on their own behalf while candidates for election or reelection.