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Supreme Court of Louisiana
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE #069 FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA The Opinions handed down on the 25th day of October, 2011, are as follows: BY VICTORY, J.:

2011-O -0875

IN RE: JUSTICE OF THE PEACE THOMAS "TOM" THREET WARD 4, PARISH OF CALCASIEU, STATE OF LOUISIANA (Parish of Calcasieu) Accordingly, it is ordered that Justice of the Peace Threet pay a civil penalty to the State of Louisiana, Judicial Branch, in the amount of $300.00, no later than thirty days from the finality of this judgment.

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10/25/2011

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 2011-O-0875 IN RE: JUSTICE OF THE PEACE THOMAS "TOM" THREET, WARD 4, PARISH OF CALCASIEU, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON RECOMMENDATION FOR DISCIPLINE FROM THE JUDICIARY COMMISSION OF LOUISIANA VICTORY, J. This matter arises from a recommendation of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana (the "Commission") regarding Justice of the Peace Thomas Threet's failure to comply with the financial disclosure requirements of Louisiana Supreme Court Rule XXXIX. The Commission found that Justice of the Peace Threet failed to file his 2009 personal financial disclosure statement timely, thereby subjecting him to a monetary penalty. The Commission determined Justice of the Peace Threet acted willfully and knowingly in failing to comply with the financial disclosure rule and recommended that he be ordered to pay a penalty of $9,300.00 and to reimburse the Commission for costs in the amount of $280.00. However, on August 23, 2011, following this Court's opinions in In re Hoffman, 11-0417 (La. 7/1/11), __ So. 3d ___, In re Flaherty, 11-0418 (La. 7/1/11), ___ So. 3d ___, and In re Thomas, 11-0572 (La. 7/1/11), ___ So. 3d ___, the Commission filed an amended recommendation, recommending penalties be limited to $200.00, with no request for reimbursement of costs. For the reasons set forth below, we find that Justice of the Peace Threet failed to comply with the financial disclosure rule, thereby subjecting him to a civil monetary penalty. We further find the record evidence supports the Commission's finding that Justice of the Peace Threet acted willfully and knowingly in failing to file the financial disclosure statement. After considering the facts, circumstances, and applicable law, Justice of the Peace
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Threet is ordered to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $300.00. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY This Court recently promulgated Supreme Court Rule XXXIX, which requires for the first time the filing of annual personal financial disclosure statements by judges and justices of the peace. See In re Sanborn, 10-2051 (La. 11/30/10), 50 So. 3d 1279. This rule became effective as to justices of the peace on January 1, 2010. Pursuant to Section 3 of the rule, all elected justices of the peace must file a financial statement by May fifteenth of each year, using a form prescribed by the Judicial Administrator's Office ("JAO") for that purpose. Rule XXXIX,

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