On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Nola.com reported that the Louisiana Judiciary Commission has recommended a month-long unpaid suspension for New Orleans judge Jennifer Medley due to her conduct during her campaign for the Orleans Parish Civil District Court. This recommendation follows a detailed investigation that resulted in four misconduct charges against her, with total investigation costs amounting to approximately $5,500.
The commission’s decision, reached with a 6-2 vote, will be reviewed by the Louisiana Supreme Court, which has scheduled a hearing for August 26. The commission opted against a yearlong suspension sought by the Office of Special Counsel. During a March hearing, Assistant Special Counsel John Keeling criticized Medley for her aggressive campaign tactics, particularly her negative television advertisements targeting her opponent, Chris Bruno, which were produced by a company owned by campaign supporter Sidney Torres IV.
The commission’s findings highlighted concerns over a $100,000 loan Medley accepted from a Torres company, most of which was funneled into her campaign. While this action was deemed unsightly, it was not found to be illegal. The commission noted a potential loophole in campaign finance law that allowed Medley to use the loan without disclosing it was for campaign purposes. However, it criticized her for not seeking independent legal advice regarding the loan.
Despite the commission’s recommendation, Medley’s attorney, Steve Scheckman, contended that a public admonishment would have been a more appropriate penalty. He emphasized that Medley plans to present significant legal arguments to the Supreme Court and deemed it premature to discuss the merits of the case in detail.
The commission’s ruling also referenced a previous case involving 4th Judicial District Court Judge Sharon Marchman, who received a public admonishment for similar campaign misconduct. The commission noted Medley’s victory in the election, stating it was “perhaps even in part because of her improper campaign activity.”
The allegations against Medley primarily centered on misleading advertisements, including one that falsely claimed Bruno had shown bias against a rape victim. The commission found that this ad was not substantiated by evidence and noted that Medley acknowledged its inaccuracy. Another advertisement labeled Bruno a “deadbeat dad,” which the commission also deemed to have misstated facts.
Source: Nola.com
