In re Cannizzaro

Summary

The Louisiana Supreme Court adopted the Judiciary Commission’s recommendation and publicly censured Judge Leon A. Cannizzaro for violating judicial campaign conduct rules. The violations involved personally accepting campaign contributions, permitting court staff to solicit contributions and organize a fundraising dinner, and failing to use a campaign committee; the court also ordered reimbursement of $809.50 in costs.

Holdings

1. Public censure was an appropriate sanction for Judge Cannizzaro's pattern of improper campaign conduct, including accepting campaign contributions without using a campaign committee.
2. Judge Cannizzaro was required to reimburse the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana $809.50 for the costs of the proceedings.

Questions Presented

1. What measure of judicial discipline was appropriate based on the stipulated campaign-contribution violations?
2. Whether public censure and reimbursement of the Judiciary Commission's costs were appropriate sanctions.

Disposition

approved