24 JDC

JUDGES & JUDGESHIPS

Judge Pro Tempore

A judge pro tempore is a person who is appointed to act temporarily as a judge or as a special master.

(1) While acting in this capacity, a judge pro tempore is not required to comply with Canons 4A(4), 4A(5), 4D(2), 4D(3), 4E, 4F, or 4H(3); further, one who acts solely as a special master is not required to comply with Canons 4A(3), 4B, 4C, 4D(4), or 5.
(2) A person who has been a judge pro tempore should not act as a lawyer in a proceeding in which the judge has served as a judge or in any related proceeding.

Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges

GAG ORDERS

People who witness judicial misconduct are often too fearful of punishment to speak publicly about it. Attorneys in Louisiana face their own ethical rules against criticizing judges, often leaving them silent as well.

The gag order begins the instant someone complains to the Judiciary Commission about a judge. It’s a blunt edict: no speaking about a complaint, or an intention to file one. Those with grievances are even cautioned to limit the help they accept drafting those complaints, for fear of leaks.

Judges with multiyear FBI probe and a Judiciary Commission investigation in which witnesses were lined up to testify against were elected and re-elected and not made public.