The Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar Board of Governors, in conjunction with the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee and the state’s trial court chief judges, are again sponsoring a series of judicial campaign conduct forums in advance of this year’s elections.The forums will be conducted June 3 through June 7 in all judicial circuits in which there will be contested judicial elections. (Qualifying is between May 13 and May 17.) Beginning at 1 p.m., each forum will last approximately an hour and will cover requirements imposed upon candidates for judicial office by Canon 7 of Florida’s Code of Judicial Conduct and the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The forums will emphasize the importance of integrity and professionalism among candidates for judicial office and the consequent impact of campaign conduct on public trust and confidence in the judicial system. The presentations will further impress upon candidates and others in the community the seriousness with which the Supreme Court and the Bar view any abuse of the election process.“Candidates for judicial office should be well aware that they win nothing if they win elections by violating Canon 7,” said Chief Justice Charles Wells. “They can and will be disciplined, and the discipline can include removal from office.”“Our committee members will once again be working hard to educate all of our state’s judicial candidates so only ethical campaign practices will be employed during this year’s election process,” said JEAC Chair Scott J. Silverman, an 11th Circuit judge.At each forum, the circuit’s chief judge will open with brief remarks stressing the nonpartisan character of judicial races, then present a videotaped introduction by Chief Justice Wells. Representatives of the Board of Governors also will speak briefly regarding the Bar’s role in ensuring compliance with the code. Members of the JEAC will then provide a summary review of Canon 7, give participants a list of informational resources, and discuss the disciplinary process.The Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee is charged with rendering advisory opinions interpreting the application of the Code of Judicial Conduct to specific circumstances confronting or affecting judges and judicial candidates. The committee’s booklet, “An Aid to Understanding Canon 7,” will be distributed at all forums, first to candidates and campaign managers, then to others as available. Copies of the booklet may also be downloaded from the Press Page of the Supreme Court’s Web site at www.flcourts.org or by clicking here. All candidates for judicial office and their campaign managers are encouraged to attend. The forums also are open to local bar association presidents, local political party chairs, and representatives of the print and broadcast media, as well as members of the general public.The following is a listing of judicial campaign conduct forums preliminarily scheduled throughout the state. Forums will be canceled in any circuit in which there are no contested judicial elections following the close of qualifying May 17. All meetings start at 1 p.m. (In the First and 14th circuits, 1 p.m. CDT).• First Circuit, Monday, June 3, in Courtroom 407, 190 Governmental Center, Pensacola 32501.• Second Circuit, Wednesday, June 5, at the Leon County Courthouse, Courtroom 3C, 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee 32301.• Third Circuit, Friday, June 7, at the Columbia County Courthouse, Courtroom 4, 145 North Hernando Street, Lake City 32056.• Fourth Circuit, Wednesday, June 5, at the Duval County Courthouse, Conference Room 220, 330 East Bay Street, Jacksonville 32202.• Fifth Circuit, Monday, June 3, at the Marion County Judicial Center, 5th Floor Conference Room, 110 N.W. 1st Avenue, Ocala 34475.• Sixth Circuit, Monday, June 3, at the Pinellas County Criminal Justice Center, courtroom 1 on the fourth floor, 14250 49th Street N., Clearwater 33702.• Seventh Circuit, Thursday, June 6, at the Volusia County Courthouse Annex (City Island), Courtroom 5, 125 E. Orange Avenue, Daytona Beach 32114.• Eighth Circuit, Tuesday, June 4, at the Alachua County Courthouse, Courtroom 4A, 201 E. University Avenue, Gainesville 32601.• Ninth Circuit, Tuesday, June 4, Orange County Courthouse, Conference Room — 23rd Floor, 425 North Orange Avenue, Orlando 32801.• 10th Circuit, Friday, June 7, at the Polk County Courthouse, 9th Floor Conference Room, 255 North Broadway, Bartow 33831.• 11th Circuit, Monday, June 3, at the Dade County Courthouse, Courtroom 4-2, 73 West Flagler Street, Miami 33130.• 12th Circuit, Wednesday, June 5, at the Sarasota County Judicial Center, Room 810, 2002 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota 34237.• 13th Circuit, Tuesday, June 4, at the Hillsborough County Courthouse, Judicial Conference room 214-G, 419 Pierce Street, Tampa 33602.• 14th Circuit, Thursday, June 6, Bay County Courthouse, Grand Jury Room, 301 McKenzie, Panama City 32402.• 15th Circuit, Friday, June 7, at the Palm Beach County Courthouse, Judicial Dining Room, Room 1.2402, 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach 33401.• 16th Circuit, Thursday, June 6, at the Monroe County Courthouse, Grand Jury Room, 4th Floor, 500 Whitehead Street, Key West 33040.•17th Circuit, Friday, June 7, Broward County Courthouse, Courtroom #400, 201 S.E. Sixth Street, Ft. Lauderdale 33301.• 18th Circuit, Monday, June 3, Supervisor of Elections Room, Brevard County Government Center, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera 32940.• 19th Circuit, Wednesday, June 5, at the St. Lucie County Courthouse, Room 217, 218 South 2nd Street, Ft. Pierce 34950.• 20th Circuit, Thursday, June 6, at the Lee County Justice Center, Grand Jury Room, 3rd Floor, 1700 Monroe Street, Ft. Myers 33901.Questions regarding the forums may be directed to Cal Goodlett, Senior Attorney, Office of the State Courts Administrator, (850) 922-0350. Judicial campaign conduct forums set Judicial campaign conduct forums set
May 1, 2002 Regular News
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