Committee On Judicial Ethic

October 31, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A town justice may permit a town employee, who is paid out of both the judicial budget and the town budget and is expressly subject to the town justice's supervision and control, to transport court funds to the bank for deposit, notwithstanding that the employee is also tasked with depositing other town funds into other bank accounts.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

October 30, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge presiding in a drug treatment court may engage in ex parte communications with the court's resource coordinator. If the content involves outside information obtained from a non-court source, then notice should be given to the defense attorney. Otherwise there is no need to disclose the content of those communications to court participants.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

October 29, 2024 | New York Law Journal

Opinion 24-48 A part-time judge may serve (1) as an officer and director of a local cooperative extension association, provided the association does not operate any programs to which the court may make referrals; (2) on a not-for-profit endowment advisory committee which awards grants to a variety of not-for-profit community groups.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

8 minute read

October 28, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A county magistrates association may honor a county court judge and a sheriff's department captain by presenting them with plaques and dinner certificates in recognition of their service to the association.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

October 27, 2024 | New York Law Journal

(1) Subject to generally applicable limitations, a judge may attend meetings of not-for-profit civic or charitable organizations to discuss the judge's experience on the bench and may invite attendees to observe the court in session. (2) A judge who is not a candidate for election or re-election to judicial office within the applicable window period may not purchase media advertisements for the judge's upcoming speaking engagements. (3) A judge may not record a public service announcement for a local radio station about a plea-by-mail program for parking tickets in the judge's court.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

9 minute read

October 24, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A part-time town justice may also serve as appointed village treasurer of a village within the town.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

October 23, 2024 | New York Law Journal

During the applicable window period, a village justice who is a judicial candidate may (1) use the title "Judge" in campaign materials and (2) use a domain name such as "judge[surname].com" for his/her campaign website.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

October 22, 2024 | New York Law Journal

Where a judge's cousin is an employee of a residential holding company and one of several non-lawyers who regularly appear as the company's agent in eviction proceedings, the judge (1) must disqualify in matters involving the judge's cousin but (2) may preside in eviction proceedings brought by other agents of the residential holding company, provided the judge is satisfied that his/her cousin is not likely to be a material witness and the judge can be fair and impartial.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

October 21, 2024 | New York Law Journal

Where the relationship between the judge and a former client completely ended more than two years ago, including payment of legal fees, that former attorney/client relationship does not bar the judge from considering the former client's application for a pistol permit.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read

October 20, 2024 | New York Law Journal

(1) A judge who is a former assistant district attorney need not disqualify from unrelated civil matters involving individuals who were investigated or prosecuted by the judge or his/her subordinates during the judge's tenure. (2) A judge's impartiality cannot reasonably be questioned in a matter merely because one of the litigants is an attorney the judge knows professionally from practicing law and engaging in bar association activities over the course of many years.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

6 minute read