Louisiana Court Suspends Judge Eboni Johnson Rose

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court has voted to temporarily remove District Judge Eboni Johnson Rose from her position in the 19th Judicial District, citing concerns that she poses a significant threat to public safety and the integrity of the judicial system. The court's decision, made on Tuesday, follows a recommendation from the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana and comes as an investigation into her conduct is underway. The ruling does not specify the reasons for her disqualification. The Supreme Court's order highlights the rarity of interim judicial disqualifications, with only a handful of similar cases occurring in south Louisiana since 2018. The court's decision raises questions about who will manage Johnson Rose's criminal and civil cases during her absence, as neither the state district court nor the Supreme Court provided immediate answers regarding a potential replacement. In a 5-2 ruling, dissenting justices expressed concern over the decision's implications for judicial accountability and voter choice. Justice Jeff Hughes suggested that a probationary period under mentorship would have been a more appropriate response, while Justice Piper Griffin cautioned against suspending a judge prior to a formal ruling from the Judiciary Commission, arguing that the actions in question did not warrant such extreme measures at this stage. Justice Jay McCallum, in a concurring opinion, advocated for a more severe penalty, including a suspension without pay and the financial responsibility for a temporary judge. He lamented that the current constitutional framework forces taxpayers to bear the costs associated with both the suspended judge's salary and the replacement judge's fees.