Matter of Codispoti

This is a judicial disciplinary proceeding instituted by the Judicial Investigation Commission of West Virginia against Leonard Codispoti, a magistrate in Logan County. The complaint alleges that during Kelly Gilmore Codispoti’s 1992 primary campaign for circuit court judge, Magistrate Codispoti, the candidate’s husband, collected and disseminated material adverse to her opponent. The Judicial Hearing Board by a 7-1 vote found that Magistrate Codispoti’s actions violated Canons 2, 3A(6) and 7B(1) of the Judicial Code of Ethics [1989]. 1 The Board recommends that Magistrate Codispoti be…