The Committee on Judicial Ethics responds to written inquiries from New York state’s approximately 3,400 judges, who serve both full- and part-time. The committee’s opinions interpret the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct (22NYCRR, Part 100) and the Code of Judicial Conduct. The committee, comprised of 26 current and retired judges and headed by former Justice George D. Marlow, also answers inquiries about proper campaign conduct from candidates for elective judicial office. The New York Law Journal publishes selected recent opinions of the committee.
Digest: A judge asks whether he/she disclose that his/her sixth degree relative is a high ranking official in a county agency, or disqualify yourself, when caseworkers subject to your relative’s oversight appear in cases before the judge. The judge advises that he and the relative exchange holiday greeting cards and that they both attend occasional family events such as weddings and funerals, but that otherwise they do not socialize together.
