Opinion ID: 1774455
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Scope of Review & Grounds for Discipline

Text: As provided in La. Const. art. V, § 25(C), the Louisiana Supreme Court is the court of original jurisdiction in judicial disciplinary proceedings. As such, we are vested with the power to make original determinations of fact based upon the evidence presented. In other words, we are not bound by the findings and recommendations made by the Commission, and may afford them whatever weight we choose. Nevertheless, because this Court is ill equipped to receive evidence, no new evidence is presented to us and only that evidence adduced at the hearing before the Commission is considered. In Re Whitaker, 463 So.2d 1291, 1298 (La.1985). The grounds for disciplinary action against a judge are set forth in Louisiana Const. art. V, § 25(C), which provides, in pertinent part: On recommendation of the judiciary commission, the supreme court may censure, suspend with or without salary, remove from office, or retire involuntarily a judge for willful misconduct relating to his official duty, willful and persistent failure to perform his duty, persistent and public conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute, conduct while in office which would constitute a felony, or conviction of a felony. In addition to these constitutional grounds, this Court, under its supervisory authority over all lower courts, adopted the Code of Judicial Conduct, effective January 1, 1976. This Code is binding on all judges, and violations of the Canons set forth therein may serve as a basis for the disciplinary action provided for by La. Const. art. V, § 25(C). In re Wilkes, 403 So.2d 35, 40 (La.1981); In re Babineaux, 346 So.2d 676, 680-681 (La. 1977), certiorari denied, Berry v. Judiciary Commission of La., 434 U.S. 940, 98 S.Ct. 431, 54 L.Ed.2d 299 (1977).