A California Supreme Court ethics committee on Tuesday released new guidance for judges who want to respond to campaign-related public criticism without running afoul of judicial canons.

The Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions' 12-page analysis offers dos and don'ts for complying with a 2020 amendment to Canon 3B(9) of the Code of Judicial Ethics. The amendment, adopted after the historic recall of Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky in 2018, gives judges some leeway to comment on current proceedings if their or their colleagues' actions come under attack during an election or recall campaign.