On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, The Advocate reported that the Louisiana Supreme Court granted the state Judiciary Commission an additional 60 days to investigate the conduct of suspended 19th Judicial District Judge Eboni Johnson Rose. This extension pushes the deadline for the commission to reach a decision to April 7, 2025.

Judge Johnson Rose was suspended in August 2024 amid allegations of misconduct, a decision made by the Supreme Court in a split ruling. The court determined that her actions as a district judge posed a “substantial threat of serious harm to the public.” The suspension, which is both significant and uncommon, occurred after the commission recommended her removal following its inquiry into various allegations against her.

Since her suspension, Johnson Rose has been sidelined from her duties, which included overseeing both criminal and civil cases. She was elected to her position in December 2020 but failed to secure a promotion to the First Circuit Court of Appeal in the November 2024 elections, losing to opponent Kelly Balfour.

The investigation into Johnson Rose’s conduct has drawn attention due to a series of controversial rulings she made prior to her suspension. Notably, in March 2024, she convicted a former police officer for misconduct against a student but later acquitted him after it was pointed out that the charge did not exist under Louisiana law. This decision received significant backlash from prosecutors.

In another high-profile case, the state Supreme Court overturned a conviction she had issued against a teacher accused of bashing a car on a flooded street with a baseball bat and threatening its
occupants with a gun. The court that Johnson Rose had improperly interacted with jurors alone after the trial. The court criticized her actions, with one justice openly questioning her professional competence.

Further complicating her judicial record, Johnson Rose vacated a guilty plea from a Texas lawyer who had confessed to arson, citing an inappropriate suspension of his prison time. Her decisions have raised concerns regarding her competency in handling cases.

In addition to her rulings, Johnson Rose faced scrutiny for remarks made during a court session in April 2024, where she accused the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s office of targeting Black men. Her comments, which included strong language, were made during a discussion about a case that had been delayed for four years. The remarks caught the attention of local media and prompted a formal complaint from District Attorney Hillar Moore to the Judiciary Commission.

As the investigation continues, the Judiciary Commission now has until early April to finalize its findings concerning Johnson Rose’s conduct. The outcome of this investigation will determine her future in the judiciary and the implications for her career as a judge in Louisiana.

 

 

Source: The Advocate