Candidates briefed on the do's and don'ts of campaigning.

If there was one familiar refrain running through the forum offered for Second Circuit judicial candidates in Tallahassee in May, it was a simple one: Don't embarrass us.

The Florida Supreme Court, the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, and The Florida Bar Board of Governors sponsored the forums, designed for anyone intending to seek election or re-election to judicial office in all of the 18 Florida circuits in which there will be contested elections, on May 8-9.

The Second Circuit forum offered an in-depth review of Bar Rules as well as Canon 7 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Chief Judge Charles Francis, Board of Governors member Dominic Caparello of Tallahassee, and Judge Robert Benton of the First District Court of Appeal were on hand to offer pointers to interested candidates and their campaign staffs.

"They won't notice if you do it right," Chief Judge Francis said. "But they will understand if you do it wrong.... Know that everything you do will be on someone's blog within an hour of when you do it."

Key among the rules for candidates is always to maintain strict impartiality. This rule includes attendance at fundraising events--if they're sponsored by a political party, they're verboten unless all other judicial candidates are also invited.

Judicial candidates must not knowingly misrepresent their opponents; they must not endorse any candidate or make speeches on behalf of anyone but themselves, solicit or accept any contributions from or make contributions to any political party. Strict rules govern the use of campaign funding and advertisements.

Caparello walked attendees through an overview of the rules, reminding them they are responsible for their own actions as well as those of anyone working for or with them.

"You need to be really careful about that. You will be held accountable," he said. "The public demands dignity and respect."

Appearing in a pre-taped talk, Chief Justice Fred Lewis told the judicial candidates that "you will be the face of justice in your community."

"Both a judge and the judicial system must have the respect and confidence of those who are served and those who must obey the judge's orders," Chief Justice Lewis said, adding that judicial candidates "must foster and guard this respect and confidence, which is so fundamental to a judge's role as part of the selection process in elections. It is in elections that the people of the community develop knowledge and opinions concerning their judges and our justice system."

Not only must candidates certify that they've read and understand all of the rules, they also could face reprimand, disbarment, and stiff monetary penalties for breaking them.

So that candidates shouldn't forget the lessons, the forum offered examples of several judges who have broken the rules and faced the consequences. Forum attendants watched a taped Florida Supreme Court public reprimand of a judicial candidate who was found in violation of the standard of impartiality and fined $50,000. They heard another detailed account of what happened when a judge accepted a $95,000 campaign contribution from his father (such contributions are subject to a $500 limit) and was removed from the bench.

"I'm sure none of you will go near these shark-infested waters," Benton said, working through a PowerPoint talk on Canon 7's "high points." He said that though not every candidate for a judicial position will win election this year, "I do think you should look at this as an opportunity to conduct yourselves in a way that will pay off in the long run."

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By Kim MacQueen

Associate Editor