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

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida approved the Judicial Qualifications Commission's findings that Dana Santino committed serious and repeated campaign violations by making false, misleading, inflammatory, and biased statements about her judicial-election opponent and by allowing her campaign personnel to disseminate them. The Court held that the misconduct undermined public confidence in the judiciary and demonstrated present unfitness for judicial office, warranting removal despite mitigating evidence and later expressions of remorse. Justice Polston, dissenting, would have imposed a 90-day suspension, a $50,000 fine, costs, and a public reprimand rather than removal.