Committee On Judicial Ethics

November 26, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A personally appointed court attorney whose official court duties include serving as a small claims arbitrator is a quasi-judicial official and therefore generally prohibited from engaging in political activity.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

November 25, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge in a two-judge town court may preside in a criminal case where their co-judge’s relative was the arresting officer, provided the judge can be fair and impartial.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read

November 22, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge who is not in his/her window period may not attend an event sponsored by Voters of Tomorrow.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

November 21, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge may not participate in efforts to honor a trailblazing physician with a postage stamp, where such efforts include petitioning the U.S. Postal Service and/or elected officials, and have no connection to the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

November 20, 2024 | New York Law Journal

Where a judge's association with his/her former law firm ended less than two years ago, the judge must disqualify in a matter involving a current client of the judge's former law firm, even if the party has not appeared in the matter. This disqualification is subject to remittal.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

November 19, 2024 | New York Law Journal

(1) A judge who previously served as bureau chief in a district attorney’s office is disqualified from all matters pending in the bureau during the judge’s tenure as chief. (2) If the judge is unsure whether a case was pending in the judge’s bureau during his/her tenure as bureau chief, the judge should make a limited inquiry of the parties.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

November 15, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge who is not in his/her window period for election or re-election to judicial office may not attend an otherwise impermissible legislative caucus weekend, even as a volunteer chaperone for students.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

November 14, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A part-time attorney judge who presides in a town court may represent a court officer assigned to a city court in the same county.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

November 13, 2024 | New York Law Journal

(1) A judge may not sign petitions that would publicly associate the judge with non-legal matters of substantial public and political controversy. (2) A judge may make financial contributions to not-for-profit organizations whose activities and missions appear to be essentially charitable in nature, but may not donate to political organizations.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

November 12, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A judge may invite attorneys to his/her wedding, provided that the attorneys are not on trial before the judge at the time of the event. The judge may also invite members of law enforcement to the wedding. For two years after the wedding, the judge must disclose when a wedding guest appears in the judge’s court.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read