The Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee has found that a candidate in a local Louisiana Supreme Court race made false statements against his opponent.
In a statement, the committee's chairman, retired Judge John Conery, said Judge Billy Burris violated judicial conduct rules by knowingly making a false statement about Judge Blair Downing Edwards during a campaign speech in Baton Rouge.
"The Committee received a complaint against Judge William 'Billy' Burris, a candidate for Associate Justice Supreme Court, First District – Republican Party," Conery said in his statement. "The complaint concerns a statement made by Judge Burris at the Baton Rouge Press Club that his opponent, Judge Blair Downing Edwards, received a loan from Smitty’s Supply a few years before Smitty’s Supply appeared before Judge Edwards at the First Circuit and won. Judge Edwards did not receive a loan from Smitty’s Supply. Judge Edwards granted a mortgage to Big 4 Investments. Big 4 Investments is a separate entity from Smitty’s Supply. The Committee finds that the statement made by Judge Burris was false in violation of Canon 7A(9)."
Burris currently serves as a judge in Washington Parish. Edwards currently serves as an appeals court judge. Both are seeking a seat on the state's high court in the May 16 primary.
Early voting ends Saturday, May 9.
