The Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics responds to written inquiries from New York state's approximately 3,600 judges and justices, as well as hundreds of judicial hearing officers, support magistrates, court attorney-referees, and judicial candidates (both judges and non-judges seeking election to judicial office). The committee interprets the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct (22 NYCRR Part 100) and, to the extent applicable, the Code of Judicial Conduct. The committee consists of 27 current and retired judges, and is co-chaired by the Honorable Margaret Walsh, a justice of the supreme court, and the Honorable Lillian Wan, a court of claims judge and acting supreme court justice.

Digest: A sitting judge may reach out to individuals in the judge's community who may have appropriate contacts, so that the judge may use those contacts to reveal, discuss and explore the judge's qualifications and interest in appointive judicial office with the appointing authority, political party leaders, and relevant elected officials. However, the judge may not compensate such individuals for their time or assistance with the appointment process.

Rules: 22 NYCRR 100.0(A); 100.0(Q); 100.2; 100.2(A); 100.3(A); 100.4(A)(1), (3); 100.5(A)(1); Opinions 15-176; 96-97.