Reprimand for Florida Attorney Over Campaign Claims About Judge

A Florida lawyer who unsuccessfully challenged a judge for his seat in a primary election was reprimanded for allegedly trying to misrepresent his opponent during the campaign as favoring prosecutors and law enforcement.

“We write to place future candidates for judicial office on notice that this Court takes misrepresentations that cast a sitting judge in a false light seriously because of their potential to undermine confidence in the rule of law,” the Florida Supreme Court said Thursday.

It warned that future such actions by any candidate would result in a more serious sanction, including suspension.

During attorney Bryon Aven’s 2018 ...