Python function to load JSON easily

json_load.py

import json

def json_load(path: str) -> dict:
    if not path:
        return {}
    try:
        with open(path, 'r') as p:
            return json.load(p)  # expect dict
    except (FileNotFoundError, json.decoder.JSONDecodeError) as e:
        print(f"[WARNING] No recipients discovered. Reason: {e}")
    return {}