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: The committee cannot comment on any legal questions. However, if applicable law permits judges to delegate authority, to accept guilty pleas and set fines, to court clerks who serve in a municipality’s traffic violations bureau, then it would also be ethically permissible for the judges to delegate that authority under the applicable statutory scheme. General Municipal Law §§ 370-373; Judiciary Law § 212(2)(l); 22 NYCRR 100.2; 100.2(A); 100.3(B); 100.3(B)(7); 100.3(C)(2); 101.1; Opinions 15-127; 13-121; 08-02/08-45.
