On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Florida Supreme Court suspended Broward County Judge Mardi Levey Cohen for 10 days without pay and ordered a public reprimand due to violations committed during her 2022 election campaign. The court’s decision aligned with recommendations from the Judicial Qualifications Commission, which investigated the judge’s actions.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Judge Mardi Levey Cohen,” with case number SC2024-0992.
Cohen acknowledged spreading unverified information that accused her opponent of being a fraud after Cohen received an email from someone claiming to be a relative of the opponent. Additionally, she filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service questioning the tax-exempt status of a church that held an event for her opponent. Cohen sent a copy of this complaint to the church, using a misleading return address that implied it came directly from the IRS.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission determined that Cohen’s actions breached multiple judicial canons, including Canons 1, 2A, 7A(3)(b), and 7A(3)(e)(ii) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. These rules mandate that judges maintain the judiciary’s integrity, particularly when running for office, and prohibit candidates from knowingly misrepresenting facts about themselves or their opponents.
The Florida Supreme Court noted mitigating factors in its ruling. Cohen admitted her misconduct, took full responsibility, and fully cooperated with the commission’s investigation. The court recognized her responsiveness and remorse, which influenced the decision to approve the commission’s proposed penalties.
“We accept the Commission’s evaluation of Judge Levey Cohen’s responsiveness and contritions,” the justices wrote. “For all these reasons, we approve the Amended Stipulation and Amended Findings and Recommendations of Discipline in this matter.”
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
