FLASHPOINT for May 17, 2006

Wednesday, May 17, 2006 | 7:33 a.m.

The best laid plans of judges and campaigns often go awry. Judge Mike Cherry says he was following judicial canons when he contributed $180 to congressional hopeful Tessa Hafen. Judges can contribute to campaigns only if it is below the disclosure threshold because otherwise it would be an endorsement. Cherry asked and was told that the federal floor for disclosure is $200. But Cherry's $180 appears on Hafen's report because she went beyond the disclosure provisions. So did Cherry violate the canons? It's debatable since he could have assumed his donation would not be public, although maybe he should have asked what Hafen would report. But he's unopposed for Supreme Court, so the damage is nonexistent.

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