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.

Digest: A part-time judge may serve (1) as an officer and director of a local cooperative extension association, provided the association does not operate any programs to which the court may make referrals; (2) on a not-for-profit endowment advisory committee which awards grants to a variety of not-for-profit community groups; and (3) as treasurer of a not-for-profit lake/watershed conservation organization, but must resign as an officer if the organization becomes involved in substantial local public controversy.  The judge's participation is subject to generally applicable limitations on judicial speech and conduct, including the prohibitions on fund-raising and membership solicitation.  The judge may suggest names of individuals to be solicited by others, but must prohibit use of his/her name or title in any such solicitation.