Committee On Judicial Ethic

March 17, 2024 | New York Law Journal

After a judge's adult child has been convicted and sentenced, a judge may attend and participate in the child's subsequent parole hearing, provided they do so in the obvious role of a parent and without reference to their judicial status or otherwise invoking the prestige of judicial office.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

7 minute read

March 14, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge may not host an event at their home for a federal legislator to discuss national issues with interested community leaders, colleagues, friends, and neighbors.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

March 13, 2024 | New York Law Journal

(1) Where the town court clerk is involved in litigation against their relatives in another court, a town justice need not disclose or disqualify in matters involving the court clerk's attorney and the relatives' attorney, but must insulate the court clerk from such matters. (2) The insulation must continue until the representation completely ends, including payment of outstanding legal fees.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

6 minute read

March 12, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge may accept a trade union's offer of a social dinner and overnight accommodations at the union's annual convention for the judge and their spouse, where the union and its members have not come, and are not likely to come, before the judge.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

March 11, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judicial association may not consent to have its name listed as a client on a consultant's website.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

March 10, 2024 | New York Law Journal

May a full-time judge donate $100 to sponsor an award at a local Independence Day parade organized by a not-for-profit civic entity, where the judge's connection will be announced at the end of the parade and the parade is a non-political, non-fund raising event?

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read

March 07, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge need not insulate their law clerk from a custody proceeding merely because their law clerk's third-degree relative has a child in common with one of the parties, where the law clerk has no familial connection to any of the parties, witnesses, or subject child in the present proceeding. If the judge chooses to make a disclosure, the judge retains full discretion to preside and permit the law clerk to participate in the matter, whether or not the parties object.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

March 06, 2024 | New York Law Journal

An elected judge may make a charitable donation by check payable to a not-for-profit charitable organization in memory of the deceased relative of a district leader of a local political party, but may not send the contribution to the district leader for collection.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

March 05, 2024 | New York Law Journal

Provided the judge concludes he/she can be fair and impartial, the judge need not disqualify from a case merely because (a) the complainant is a long-time professional acquaintance of the judge and (b) the defendant has attempted to contact the judge ex parte, accused the judge of corruption and bigotry, threatened the judge's career, and implicitly threatened the judge's family. However, the judge should disclose on the record the substance of any threats of violence by the defendant that were received ex parte.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

7 minute read

March 04, 2024 | New York Law Journal

May a judge serve as the secretary-treasurer of a not-for-profit organization which owns and operates a cemetery for the descendants of Jewish immigrants? The position oversees investments, maintains a checking account, sends out meeting notices with the annual dues notice, and deposits all funds received. The organization does no fund-raising.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read