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 28 current and retired judges, and is co-chaired by the Honorable Debra L. Givens, an acting justice of the supreme court in Erie County, and the Honorable Lillian Wan, an associate justice of the appellate division, second department.

Facts/Issue: The inquiring full-time judge also serves as a firearm licensing officer.  On reviewing an application for a pistol permit, the judge recognized the applicant as a former client.  The judge had represented the client in a criminal matter that ended in a conviction more than nine years ago.  The judge was paid fully paid in 2014 and the representation completely terminated in 2014.