Saturday, July 07, 2012

Fla. Supremes Bench 'Touchy' Judge For Illegal Use Of Hands, Representing Mom In F'closure Case While Working As Jurist, Getting Illegal Campaign Loan

In Tallahassee, Florida, The Associated Press reports:
  • The state Supreme Court suspended the law license of a former central Florida judge who had been removed from office for unethical and illegal conduct. The justices [...] ordered that N. James Turner be immediately suspended for 90 days.

  • They removed him as a circuit judge in Osceola County in November for ethics violations that included hugging and kissing a female court worker without her permission.

  • The high court also found Turner violated judicial ethics by representing his mother in a foreclosure case while a sitting judge.

  • In addition, the justices ruled he violated the state's campaign finance law by accepting and failing to report a $30,000 campaign loan from her. The loan violated a limit of $500 per contribution.