ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
STATE OF WASHINGTON
OPINION NO. 87-11



QUESTION

     May a part-time municipal court judge, identified as a lawyer but not
as a judge, write a newspaper column on legal issues including the judge’s
opinion on recent legislation and case law?


ANSWER

     A part-time municipal court judge may not write a newspaper column on
any legal issues which includes the judge’s opinion on recent legislation
and court cases.  CJC Canon 4 permits a judge to engage in activities to
improve the law, legal system, and the administration of justice but only
when these activities do not cast doubt on the judge’s capability to decide
impartially any issue which comes before the judge.