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 in Albany County, and the Honorable Lillian Wan, an associate justice of the appellate division, second department.

Digest: A judge who appoints fiduciaries in a guardianship part (1) may direct court staff to update the Part 36 fiduciary list by contacting the listed individuals to inquire whether they are currently accepting such assignments; (2) may personally inquire whether a prospective appointee is available to accept assignment in a particular case, even if the Alleged Incapacitated Person is indigent, provided the judge avoids undue pressure or coercion; and (3) may also direct court staff to make such inquiry on the judge’s behalf.