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“Election violations are misconduct that this Court will not tolerate” and not only does the “violator suffer consequences, but the entire judiciary suffers the consequences”.
That’s the stated position of Chief Justice Barbara Pariente of the Florida Supreme Court.
In the Fall, 2005 issue of the County Court Courier, Broward County Judge Peggy Gehl said that Chief Justice Pariente made it very clear that election violations by judges won’t be tolerated.
Judge Gehl is also a member of Florida’s Judicial Qualifications Commission.
So this begs the question----why hasn’t the JQC and Florida Supreme Court addressed the alleged election violations of George W. Greer in his 2004 campaign for reelection to the position of Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge of Pinellas and Pasco Counties?
During August, 2004, during the race between Schiavo death judge Greer and challenger Jan Govan, Greer's 30-second TV commercial aired, allegedly violating Section 106 of Florida's campaign law which prohibits candidates from using the services of state officers or employees in their campaign or using a building owned by a governmental entity to for campaign purposes. The film would seem to be clear and convincing evidence, sufficient to bring charges against Greer and his buddies, state attorney for Pinellas and Pasco Counties, Bernie McCabe; former Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice and Sixth Circuit public defender Bob Dillinger.
Greer’s commercial gave the appearance that public officers were using the influence of their positions to advocate the election of Greer and Greer is shown in a courtroom---improper use of the Pinellas County Courthouse for political purposes.
Gehl noted that Chief Justice had “pointed out that election violations negatively impact the judiciary as a whole and therefore the Court will strictly adhere to canons and statutes regulating judicial campaigns”.
There didn’t appear to be any exemption listed for George Greer.
“Whether elected or appointed, the independence of the judiciary is an obligation of all judges and strict compliance with our election statutes and ethical code is essential to maintain the dignity and respect of the judicial office”, Pariente said.
“This Court takes misconduct of judges, and especially election violations, very seriously”.
So when can we expect that George Greer will be sanctioned for his alleged violations?
Gehl says that as a member on the JQC, she had visited the Florida Supreme Court in November to watch a public reprimand of a circuit judge for judicial misconduct. He had admitted campaign violations, Gehl says, and agreed to receive the public reprimand which was delivered by Chief Justice Pariente. By entering into the stipulation for punishment, he will keep his seat. I this particular case, there was no way to determine whether his campaign violations were a major contributor to his election success in 2002”.
So if Judges Gehl and Pariente feel so strongly about election violations, why hasn’t any action been forthcoming against Greer or is the plan to wait hopefully long enough to say that the statute of limitations has expired to bring charges against him as outlined in Florida Statutes that would be warranted?
In that the statute of limitations for misdemeanors is two years, it appears that a formal complaint against Greer could still be filed with Florida’s Election Commission as well as the Attorney General’s office which could finally result in an investigation of Greer and his campaign activity and which could lead to charges being brought against Greer which would constitute grounds for his immediate removal from office by executive order of Gov. Bush and/or impeachment by the Florida House.
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/011606ConvincingViolations.html
According to Florida Statutes and past decisions of the Florida Elections Commission, Greer violated campaign finance laws, Florida Statutes in regard to qualifying for office and has allegedly filed false written instruments with the Florida Division of Elections, allegedly committing at least one misdemeanor.
A criminal violation would require Greer's removal from office immediately and put him on the other side of the bench---sans his black robe and gavel.
The proof is on film. 3-05-06
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/011706JudgingGeorgeGreer.html
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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