On Thursday, December 19, 2024, CBS News reported that Broward County Judge Mardi Levey Cohen may face a 10-day suspension along with a public reprimand due to allegations of misconduct during her 2022 re-election campaign. The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission submitted this recommendation in a filing to the state Supreme Court.
The commission’s proposal follows a previous rejection by the Supreme Court in September, which had dismissed an earlier suggestion for a public reprimand without providing specific reasons. The case was then returned to the commission, responsible for investigating judicial misconduct and making disciplinary recommendations.
Judge Levey Cohen has been accused of improperly disseminating information about her election opponent. Specifically, she allegedly forwarded an email containing unverified claims regarding her opponent’s financial dealings, including an accusation that the opponent received funds from the federal Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic without qualifying for such assistance.
Levey Cohen has served on the bench since her election in 2010, and she was re-elected for another six-year term in 2016. She graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1987.
The Supreme Court holds the ultimate authority for judicial discipline in Florida, and any decision regarding Levey Cohen’s potential suspension will come from this body following the commission’s recommendations.
Source: CBS News
