Opinion ID: 1746855
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Judicial Tenure Commission Proceedings

Text: The Judicial Tenure Commission filed a complaint in April 1998 alleging that respondent's campaign literature violated Canon 7(B)(1)(d) of the Code of judicial Conduct. This Court appointed former Wayne Circuit Judge John P. Kirwan to serve as master in this case. Judge Kirwan issued a report after conducting an evidentiary hearing. Judge Kirwan initially determined that the complaint should be dismissed because Canon 7(B)(1)(d) is facially unconstitutional. Judge Kirwan recognized that Michigan has a compelling interest in overseeing and regulating judicial elections. He nevertheless concluded that any canon or rule that attempts to restrict speech must avoid abridging a candidate's right to free speech as defined by New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 84 S.Ct. 710, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964). Judge Kirwan determined that Canon 7(B)(1)(d) is not sufficiently specific to survive a constitutional challenge because it chills a candidate's right to free speech by not clearly apprising judicial candidates of impermissible comment. In the alternative, Judge Kirwan assumed the constitutionality of the canon and the applicability of the actual malice standard enunciated in New York Times, supra . Applying that standard, Judge Kirwan determined the JTC failed to allege or prove actual malice regarding any of the exhibits. He further determined, however, that if the actual malice standard does not apply, the JTC proved that respondent violated Canon 7(B)(1)(d) by distributing exhibits 3 and 5. Judge Kirwan found that the average intelligent voter would have been misled by the meaning conveyed to the electorate in these exhibits. After both respondent and the examiner objected to the master's report, the JTC held a hearing. Six JTC members thereafter found judicial misconduct predicated on exhibits 1, 3, 4 and 5. They recommended that this Court suspend respondent for ninety days for that misconduct. In a separate concurrence, one member joined the recommendation, but observed that judicial elections must be conducted in a dignified way and that candidates must not use false advertising methods. Two members dissented, but did not author separate opinions. The JTC concluded that Canon 7(B)(1)(d) is not overbroad. It reasoned that the canon is designed to preserve the public's confidence in the judiciary by ensuring that judges do not lie or mislead the public. The JTC determined that a candidate's personal interest in being elected does not override the need for public confidence in the judiciary. The JTC explained that, under McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Comm., 514 U.S. 334, 115 S.Ct. 1511, 131 L.Ed.2d 426 (1995), the state has leeway to regulate misleading statements made during a campaign. It concluded that the canon is sufficiently precise because it has no impact on truthful communications and does not inhibit candidates from offering opinions. The JTC reasoned that the canon applies only when a judicial candidate knows that a communication is false, fraudulent, misleading or deceptive. The JTC observed that the canon is further limited by the requirement that a misrepresentation be material. The JTC expressed uncertainty whether the actual malice standard of New York Times, supra, applied to judicial disciplinary matters. It found, however, that in the event that the standard applies, respondent had acted with actual malice. The JTC determined that respondent's calculated falsehood satisfied the New York Times standard. The JTC explained: [W]e are persuaded that Respondent's campaign literature, individually and as a whole, reveals beyond any reasonable doubt a conscious effort to use false, fraudulent, misleading and deceptive statements as part and parcel of his campaign strategy. The materials themselves speak eloquently to this point, as they cover a broad spectrum of issues and are consistently untruthful. Additionally, we note Respondent's own statements about himself as an outsider faced with a hostile environment at the 37th District Court. Respondent had also experienced two unsuccessful bids for non-judicial office. As a result of such considerations, we find that Respondent decided to wage a brass knuckles campaign and followed through on that strategy in successfully retaining his judicial position. Respondent petitions this Court to reject the JTC recommendation.