Fla. Judge Reprimanded for Internet Link, Gets Lesson in 'New Media'
The Florida Supreme Court has reprimanded a judge for two mistakes in 2008 campaign materials, including a YouTube link that contained the word “re-elect.”
Judge Angela Dempsey “stood impassively” as Florida Chief Justice Peggy Quince read the reprimand today, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
“This case stands as a warning to all judicial candidates,” Quince said, according to the newspaper account. “You will be held responsible and accountable for the actions of your campaign consultants, including the way they choose to use new technology like the social media.”
Dempsey was appointed in 2005, and the word “re-elect” violated a judicial canon barring knowing misrepresentations about qualifications, the Florida Supreme Court said in a Feb. 4 opinion (PDF). The term “re-elect” didn’t appear in the contents of the video, a commercial for her campaign, but it did appear in a link to the video, according to a stipulation of facts (PDF). Dempsey wasn’t aware the video was posted to YouTube by her campaign consultant, but she accepted responsibility in the stipulation.
Dempsey also erred when campaign materials touted 20 years’ experience, apparently including her years in law school to reach the total, Quince said. The statement read, “I went to law school because I wanted to improve the lives of real people. After nearly 20 years and thousands of cases, I believe I have.”
