In re Blackburne

I agree with the Commissioners who dissented from the decision to remove Justice Laura Blackburne from the bench and voted for censure. I thus dissent from the ruling of the majority.

Commissioner Coffey stated:

“The decision reached by the majority in this mat*222ter is unprecedented and I believe unwarranted. The mistake made by the respondent, while wrong and while sanctionable, was in all respects a classic case of an error of judgment, which we as a Commission historically have been very cautious in criticizing. For a single error of judgment, in the absence of a breach of trust, to result in…