Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 16-534 Re: Dana Marie Santino.

Summary

The Court approved the Judicial Qualifications Commission's findings that Dana Marie Santino committed serious and repeated judicial-campaign violations by making false, misleading, inflammatory, and partisan statements about her opponent's criminal-defense practice and by failing to control campaign materials. Applying its present-fitness analysis, the Court concluded that the misconduct eroded public confidence in the judiciary and demonstrated that Santino was unfit to hold judicial office, making removal appropriate despite mitigating evidence. Justice Polston, dissenting, would have imposed a 90-day suspension, a $50,000 fine, costs, and a public reprimand rather than removal.