As we approach the end of another year with this pandemic, with a virtual life and Court, with adjudicating in nearly empty courtrooms, and with too great a distance between the judiciary and those we serve, a question presents itself: Can a Judge Say I Love You? I’ll get straight to the point. We can, we must, we should, and we do “say” I love you in myriad ways, if not with literal words than with our actions.

A review of the Rules on Judicial Conduct (and ethics opinions) reveals no rule or opinion prohibiting judges from either expressing or being guided by love. In fact, many aspects of the Rules support a judiciary motivated by love. The Rules require judges who are honorable and who uphold the integrity of the judiciary. Is love not an essential part of honor and integrity? Similarly, love of each litigant we serve and for counsel we work with is relevant to the directives that judges perform our duties without prejudice and with patience, dignity and courtesy, to the requirement that we be faithful to the law, to the procedural rights of all, and to upholding civil and respectful conduct by all players in the legal process.

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