"Campaign committees...should manage campaign finances responsibly, avoiding deficits that might necessitate post-election fundraising, to the extent possible." - Code of Judicial Conduct of Mississippi Judges: Canon 5(C)2 [Commentary]
Trial lawyers are seeking to raise $300,000 for a personal loan Jim and Mary Kitchens took out. If a judicial candidate pays a personal loan with campaign contributions, he is in violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct of Mississippi Judges. The punishment can be as severe as removal from office. That is very severe, but we're talking about $300,000. We'll see if the Commission on Judicial Performance takes action.
On the other hand, perhaps this is a campaign loan. In which case this was a campaign ignoring the ethical encouragements of the judicial canons in an attempt to win. I guess that happens all the time. Nothing to complain about, but nothing to brag about either for the incoming justice.
The Clarion Ledger reported today that the campaign manager said, "There is no fundraiser. What we are having is normal campaign business." Yet, according to campaign finance reports, one week before the election the campaign had more than a $50,000 surplus. Add another $300,000 to that and you have a campaign that spent more in the very last week of the campaign than many candidates spent the entire year.
