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 27 current and retired judges and headed by former associate justice George D. Marlow of the Appellate Division, 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 full-time principal law clerk who is a part-time SCAR hearing officer (1) may not run for or serve as a delegate to a political party’s judicial nominating convention; (2) may apply for and become a notary public; and (3) may not circulate nominating petitions except during his/her window period as a candidate for election to judicial office, and then only if his/her own name—alone or with others—is on the petition. Rules: N.Y. Const. art. VI, §20(b); 22 NYCRR 50.5(e); 100.0(A); 100.2; 100.2(A); 100.5(A)(1)(a), (c)-(d), (h); 100.5(B); 100.5(C)(1); 100.6(A); Opinions 14-107; 13-133; 13-111; 10-191; 10-101/11-01; 03-129; 98-46; 96-146; 95-83; 94-78.
