In re Judge Jennifer Medley

Louisiana Supreme Court suspended district judge for activities during her election campaign — including knowingly false statements that her opponent was a “deadbeat dad” — finding they violated the state’s judicial conduct code and were actionable under a state constitutional clause allowing the state supreme court, on recommendation of the state’s judiciary commission, to discipline judges for certain willful, persistent, or felonious conduct. The court rejected the judge’s claims that these campaign statements were protected by the First Amendment.