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: (1) A town or village justice may not assist the district attorney by contacting each prosecution witness, complainant and police officer concerning their upcoming court appearances. (2) Opinion 09-173 is hereby amended so that justice courts should not notify such witnesses for the district attorney, even if the court is willing to do the same for defendants and defense attorneys on request. Rules: CPLR 2301; Judiciary Law § 212(2)(l); 22 NYCRR 100.0(S); 100.1; 100.2(A); 100.3(B)(6); 22 NYCRR 101.1; Opinions 15-197(A); 13-183; 10-111; 09-205; 09-173; 02-49; 96-150; People v. Antommarchi, 80 NY2d 247 (1992).
