Editorial: Setting a Judicial Example

When the Louisiana Supreme Court kicked Orleans Parish District Court Judge C. Hunter King from the bench in 2003, there was hardly any dispute that he was unfit for the robe. Among other violations, Judge King had threatened to fire court staffers if they didn't sell tickets for a campaign fund-raiser. As the Supreme Court said in booting him out, "honesty is a minimum qualification expected from every judge."

Now the court has decided to permanently disbar Mr. King, and it's good to see that a majority of justices want to set a higher standard for people who hold a law license. To that end, the justices also should aggressively discipline other metro New Orleans judges who have broken the law and the Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as the numerous attorneys who enabled their corruption.

Louisiana has been plagued by numerous cases of judicial corruption in recent years, and tough sanctions are needed to help deter further corruption and to restore the judiciary's image.

The court should be as aggressive in disciplining former Plaquemines Parish Judge William Roe, who was convicted last year of pocketing $6,000 in improper judicial reimbursements, and former St. Bernard Parish Judge Wayne Cresap, who last year pleaded guilty to taking bribes. The justices suspended both judges when they were charged, and neither should be allowed to practice law again. The Supreme Court also should disbar U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous, who faces likely impeachment in Congress for taking cash from lawyers with cases in his court and lying under oath numerous times, among other offenses.

Corrupt judges, and the attorneys that enable them in violation of their code of conduct, have severely tarnished the judiciary's reputation in our state. Federal prosecutors have done their part in going after them. But systematic and relentless disciplinary action from the Supreme Court would go a long way in restoring Louisianians' confidence in our judicial system.

Full Editorial and Source:
Setting a Judical Example: An Editorial

See Also:
Former Judge Disbarred