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 judge whose former law partner is temporarily unavailable for medical reasons may accept and deposit fees, issue checks to clients and the firm and pay expenses as necessary to wind up the law firm’s affairs, until the partner recovers or new counsel is hired but may not use law firm letterhead after assuming judicial office. Rules: NY Const, art VI, § 20(b)(4); 22 NYCRR 100.4(G); Opinions 14-119; 13-08; 07-05; 05-130(A); 04-137; 97-09; 96-89; 95-12; 89-136; Matter of Intemann, 73 NY2d 580 (1989).
