Committee On Judicial Ethics

August 27, 2021 | New York Law Journal

May a village justice also serve as Assigned Counsel Administrator in the same county?

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

2 minute read

August 26, 2021 | New York Law Journal

Where a part-time town justice's law firm has a referral relationship with an attorney, the judge is disqualified from all cases in which that attorney appears for two years from the date their business relationship is completely terminated. However, the disqualification is subject to remittal after full disclosure, even if a party is proceeding without counsel.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

August 26, 2021 | New York Law Journal

A judge may speak at a bar association's fund-raising event and introduce a video concerning a particular bar association initiative, even though others will solicit funds for that specific initiative in the course of the evening, provided that the judge does not personally solicit funds.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

August 25, 2021 | New York Law Journal

Absent a legal requirement to do so, a town justice must not sign an acknowledgment form attached to the town's sexual harassment policy, where (a) the acknowledgment contains an indirect pledge by the judge to be bound by the policy's terms, (b) the town's policy sets forth local procedures and reporting requirements and purports to subject all town managers, supervisors and employees to local discipline, and (c) the Unified Court System has adopted a sexual harassment policy applicable to "all judges," which conflicts with the town's policy.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

August 25, 2021 | New York Law Journal

A judge may not organize a virtual fashion show for judges which will (a) showcase the merchandise of a single producer of judicial robes or jewelry, (b) include a display by a single artist who creates and sells themed jewelry, or (c) display jewelry from judges' personal collections accompanied by information about where the items were or can be purchased.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

August 16, 2021 | New York Law Journal

A town justice may preside in a matter involving an attorney from the law office which filed an Article 78 proceeding against the town and the town court clerk, provided the judge can be fair and impartial.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

August 13, 2021 | New York Law Journal

A full-time judge may author a chapter of a book concerned with the creation of lasting reforms in the area of child welfare in the public and not-for-profit sectors.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

3 minute read

August 13, 2021 | New York Law Journal

A full-time judge may accept an appointment to serve on the search committee for the dean of a law school that is financially supported primarily by New York State or one of its political subdivisions, even if the prior dean's tenure or departure was controversial.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

5 minute read

August 12, 2021 | New York Law Journal

A judge in a large urban court may write a letter of reference for a sheriff's deputy supervisor seeking to be promoted, based on the judge's personal knowledge of the deputy, where the deputy supervises others who provide court security and is thus unlikely to appear before the judge.

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

4 minute read

August 12, 2021 | New York Law Journal

May a full-time justice participate, without compensation, in a commercially produced documentary comparing various judicial systems around the world?

By Committee on Judicial Ethics

1 minute read