Tag: campaign for judicial integrity in Louisiana

Ethics Scores 24th JDC Election 2024

Scientific research shows that campaign contributions are correlated with judges’ decisions. There is a crisis with the court’s legitimacy in Louisiana. This issue is very salient now for a variety of reasons. There are political concerns, case-related concerns, and financial concerns. 

Damon Cann, a Political Science instructor at Georgia University, conducted a study. It explores whether judges favor attorneys who support their campaigns financially. He shows that campaign contributions are indeed correlated with judges’ decisions. (Cann, Damon M. “Justice for Sale? Campaign Contributions and Judicial Decisionmaking.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly, vol. 7, no. 3, 2007, pp. 281–97. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40405604. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024)

Judicial ethics in Louisiana is a pretty hot topic for Motion to Quash LLC. There is discussion about judges taking advantage of elections to promote their own interests. There is discussion about judges showing favor with attorneys who donate to their campaigns. There is discussion about making it illegal for judges to accept contributions from attorneys who practice in their district. Join the Campaign for Judicial Integrity in Louisiana here.

The Code of Judicial Conduct highlights a crucial principle. Judges should avoid the appearance of impropriety. 28 USC section 455 – enacted by Congress, binds them and sets the standard for all the courts.

None of the three candidates for 24th JDC follow the judicial guidelines. They do not adhere when it comes to providing financial support to their campaigns. Jefferson Parish has been out of step with the norms governing Louisiana since Operation Wrinkled Robe. The operation, championed by Jim Letten, proved campaign support in Jefferson Parish was given with criminal intent. It was not for political reasons.

Ethics Scores for 24th JDC Candidates for 3/23/2024 Election

24th JDC
Candidate averageF33%
Jackie MaloneyF33%
Jerry SmithF33%
Lindsey ValentiD67%

Jackie Maloney- Ethics score F (33%) 

As a judicial candidate Jackie Maloney received $29,400 campaign contributions from 44 attorneys who practice in her district. Ms. Maloney received $2500 from 5 attorneys and $1,000 from 5 attorneys. $500 was issued by 14 attorneys. 

Jackie Maloney is an attorney. She issued over five thousand dollars in campaign contributions to 7 Judges in her district of practice. 

Jerry Smith Ethics score F (33%)

Since 2020, Jerry Smith received over $115,000 from over 180 attorneys who practice in his district. Mr. Smith received $2500 from 13 attorneys and $1,000 from 21 attorneys. $500 was issued by 50 attorneys. 

Since 2019, Jerry Smith issued $3650 to 10 judges in the 24th JDC.

Lindsey Valenti Ethics score D (67%)

As a candidate, Lindsey Valenti received more than $150, 000 from over 130 attorneys who practice in her district. Ms. Valenti received $2,500 from 36 attorneys and $1,000 from 22 attorneys. $500 was received by 42 attorneys.

As an attorney, Lindsey Valenti issued zero dollars to Judges. Thus, earning her a higher score despite receiving the most money.

Method

For consistency, the total scores were based on these three principles:

  1. Campaign contributions issued (5 possible points)
  2. Campaign contributions received (5 possible points)
  3. Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 possible points)

Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent. Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to tracie@motiontoquash.org with the new information. The spreadsheets are free and printable. Campaign finance reports were obtained from the Ethics Board’s website and the Ethics Disclosures can be found on the Louisiana Supreme Court’s website. 

Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of motiontoquash.org.  Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019.  NWC’s mission is to support whistleblowers in their efforts to expose and help prosecute corruption and other wrongdoing around the world. 

Join the Campaign for Judicial Integrity in Louisiana

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Have you ever been affected by a Judge’s decision in Louisiana? Did the decision affect you in such a way that you lost money? Were you left at risk of ongoing abuse? Or were you denied to see your children? Chances are that you have. Did you feel the court was corrupt? If so, Motion to Quash LLC has the solution. Join the Campaign for Judicial Integrity in Louisiana.

We want the public to get precise and understandable information. We aim to show what you can do to rid Louisiana of Judicial corruption. Join the Campaign for Judicial Integrity in Louisiana to tackle and solve those problems. Help make justice right. Work towards removing bad and corrupt judges from the Louisiana judiciary.

Harmful Effect of Money in Louisiana Government

Motion to Quash LLC takes action against government corruption and retribution in Louisiana. No one can get a fair trial before judges who get illegal payments from attorneys. Judges also obtain retroactive immunity from criminal prosecution.

A significant number of judges in Louisiana get illegal payments from attorneys in the form of campaign contributions. Motion to Quash LLC is working to pass legislation. The goal is to make sure that any judge who gets contributions from attorneys can’t stay on the seat. This applies to the district where the attorneys practice. What You Can Do to Rid the Louisiana Judiciary of Bad and Corrupt Judges

There is continuing fraud before the courts in Louisiana and the Louisiana judicial system is in a crisis. This is the underlying story. Judges get illegal contributions and payments. These acts are done to increase their own interests. This conduct has corrupted the Louisiana judicial system.

The Louisiana Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Justices have always known this issue. Many Louisiana judges sit on cases where they should not. The judges are disqualified under the law. This disqualification arises because the attorney gave them a criminal payment. The attorney: (1) appears before them as a party; (2) appears as a witness; or (3) has an interest.

The mission of the Campaign for Judicial Integrity in Louisiana is to disqualify judges who receive money from attorneys. It aims to end corruption and take back our judicial system.

How to Disqualify Your Judge

Responsibility falls on citizens to reclaim our justice system. The method is for the people to file LA Code Crim Pro 987 based on fraud upon the court. The Motion to Set Aside Conviction and Dismiss Prosecution forms are to be used. Use the Rule to Show Cause forms as well. Order of Dismissal forms should be included. Here is a link to the forms provided by LSAC http://www.lasc.org/rules/City_Parish/Uniform_Forms_for_City_Parish_Courts.pdf

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Federal laws provide an opportunity to reverse the judge’s ruling. They allow moving forward with working the case to its logical conclusion. The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution of the United States (Article VI, Clause 2) establishes the primacy of certain laws. This includes the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties made under its authority. They are the “supreme Law of the Land”. These laws take precedence. They have priority over any conflicting state laws.

Section 1346 of Title 18, United States Code provides an intangible right to honest services.  Federal prosecutors have applied the statute in cases of public corruption. They have also used it in cases where private individuals breached a fiduciary duty to another.

Exercise Your Rights & Contact Your Legislators

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Motion to Quash LLC is drafting legislation. They are sending it to every legislator. The goal is to stop any judge from receiving payments. These payments come from attorneys who may appear before them. The next step for you, the voters, is to exercise your rights. Contact your legislators, who are your representatives. They work for you. Urge them to get the amendment passed. Remember, these payments have affected every aspect of the court system, so now is the time for action.

If a judicial decision or a corrupt judge has hurt you, take action. This is the only thing that you can do. “Protesting in the street is not going to get you anywhere. Making music or noise is not going to get you anywhere. Exercising your right will get you somewhere.” – Dr. Richard Fine, Founder, Vote for Justice, Campaign for Judicial Integrity.

Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of motiontoquash.org. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation. This legislation supports the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020. It also includes amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019.  NWC’s mission is to support whistleblowers. They help in their efforts to expose and help prosecute corruption. This includes other wrongdoing around the world. 

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