Legal Ethics And Attorney Discipline

New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-225: Is It Unethical For a Judge to Wear a Flag Pin On Their Robe During Proceedings?

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | September 10, 2024

The Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics responds to a written inquiry from one of New York state's approximately 3,600 judges and justices.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-224

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | September 9, 2024

Although a part-time judge may not serve on a school board, he/she may accept appointment as a community representative to certain advisory committees established by the school board for the local school district: (1) the judge may serve on the district-wide safety team, provided that its work focuses on policies and procedures to promote safety in the schools, and does not involve law enforcement or investigatory functions, and (2) the judge may serve on a citizens finance committee which advises the superintendent and budget officer on annual budget development, capital improvement projects, and the like.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-223

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | August 22, 2024

(1) A town justice may advocate for the judge's preferred schedule and scheduling policies for use of the town's multi-purpose room as a courtroom, subject to generally applicable limitations on judicial speech and conduct. (2) On these facts, while the judge may pursue lawful avenues to challenge the resolution, the judge may not simply disregard the resolution and schedule court sessions as if it had not been issued.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-222

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | August 21, 2024

A judge may be honored as "Woman of the Year" at a cultural not-for-profit organization's International Women's Day event, provided the event is not a fund-raiser.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-221

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | August 20, 2024

A town justice may serve on the board of a not-for-profit organization formed to preserve and protect a nearby lake. The judge may not serve on the subcommittee that serves as a liaison with law enforcement and conservation officers, but may attend the subcommittee's annual luncheon.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-220

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | August 19, 2024

A town court clerk may not maintain part-time employment in the private law office of an assistant public defender assigned to the town court.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-219

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | August 18, 2024

A judge may serve as financial secretary of a not-for-profit cemetery organization, provided the judge refrains from the solicitation of funds or other fund-raising activities.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-218

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | August 15, 2024

(1) A judge who presides in estate proceedings may continue to serve on the board of directors of a not-for-profit hospice organization, even after the judge becomes aware that a testator named the hospice as a beneficiary in their will. (2) The judge may preside over the probate of a will that contains a bequest to the hospice, absent a challenge to the bequest. If a challenge occurs, the judge must disqualify.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-217

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | August 14, 2024

A judge (1) may not speak about the judge's "philosophy" on pistol permits to gun advocacy groups or sportsmen/sportswomen; (2) may make non-political charitable contributions and/or be a regular member of the ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Sierra Club, and Planned Parenthood, but may not donate to their political arms or assume any leadership position within them; (3) may make contributions to and/or be a member of not-for-profit educational, religious, charitable, cultural, fraternal, or civic organizations such as a public radio station, Salvation Army, a Rotary Club, and Operation Unite; and (4) may serve on a library board organized as a not-for-profit charitable, educational, or civic entity, but may not be involved in lobbying efforts or in seeking to influence legislation affecting the library.
New York Law Journal

Judicial Ethics Opinion 23-216

By Committee on Judicial Ethics | August 13, 2024

An administrative judge may not organize quarterly community volunteer opportunities for the judiciary and non-judicial staff.