Democratic-backed candidates Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appellate court ruling which permitted Georgia’s Judicial Qualifications Commission to release a public statement saying that it “reasonably believes” Jordan and Rankin violated Georgia’s Code of Judicial Conduct.
At issue are statements the two candidates, who campaigned together, made while on the campaign trail with regard to reproductive freedom. The JQC also took issue with their joint campaign activities, which the commission argued violates prohibitions against judicial candidates endorsing one another.
Georgia Recorder reporter Maya Homan joined “All Things Considered” to explain where the lawsuit stands now and its implications for future races.
Homan reported that the two candidates have filed an emergency appeal seeking to have the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling vacated.
Both Jordan and Rankin lost to Republican-appointed incumbent justices in Tuesday’s election. Homan said an attorney for them argues the JQC’s actions serve to chill First Amendment speech for Supreme Court candidates.
