Committee On Judicial Ethics

August 15, 2024 | New York Law Journal

(1) A judge who presides in estate proceedings may continue to serve on the board of directors of a not-for-profit hospice organization, even after the judge becomes aware that a testator named the hospice as a beneficiary in their will. (2) The judge may preside over the probate of a will that contains a bequest to the hospice, absent a challenge to the bequest. If a challenge occurs, the judge must disqualify.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

6 minute read

August 14, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge (1) may not speak about the judge's "philosophy" on pistol permits to gun advocacy groups or sportsmen/sportswomen; (2) may make non-political charitable contributions and/or be a regular member of the ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Sierra Club, and Planned Parenthood, but may not donate to their political arms or assume any leadership position within them; (3) may make contributions to and/or be a member of not-for-profit educational, religious, charitable, cultural, fraternal, or civic organizations such as a public radio station, Salvation Army, a Rotary Club, and Operation Unite; and (4) may serve on a library board organized as a not-for-profit charitable, educational, or civic entity, but may not be involved in lobbying efforts or in seeking to influence legislation affecting the library.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

11 minute read

August 13, 2024 | New York Law Journal

An administrative judge may not organize quarterly community volunteer opportunities for the judiciary and non-judicial staff.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

August 12, 2024 | New York Law Journal

Where a judge's personal legal matter completely terminated in August 2023, including payment of legal fees, the two-year disqualification period runs until August 2025.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read

August 11, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A full-time judge who has co-authored a screenplay on a topic unrelated to the law may not use the judge's judicial title to solicit agents and movie producers for the screenplay, and should likewise instruct the judge's co-authors not to use the judge's judicial title in promoting the screenplay.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

August 08, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge may serve on the board of a not-for-profit organization dedicated to maintaining a local park and providing educational and cultural programs for the community.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read

August 07, 2024 | New York Law Journal

(1) A part-time judge may serve on the legislative committee of a lawyers' association, provided its agenda and activities are limited to improvement of the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice. (2) A town justice who previously provided legal services to the town must disqualify in all matters in which the town is a party for a period of two years from the termination of the representation. The disqualification is subject to remittal.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

6 minute read

August 06, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A town justice may not permit his/her attorney assistant to accept part-time employment in the District Attorney's office in the same county.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

August 05, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge may, subject to administrative approval, designate a publicly available folder in the court clerk's office to contain duplicate copies of the court's non-sealed written criminal decisions in chronological order.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

August 04, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge may sign a family tree affidavit for the estate of the judge's long-time close friend, based upon facts within the judge's personal knowledge.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read