STATE OF WASHINGTON
ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OPINION 91-28

Question
     1.  May a judicial officer be a member of an organization, the stated
purpose of which is to advance the legal rights of women, if its activities
include lobbying and direct participation in litigation?
     2.  May a judicial officer purchase a ticket for and attend the
organization's annual dinner, proceeds of which go directly to fundraising
for the organization?  Does it matter if the ticket is complimentary?
     3.  May a judicial officer attend and make a purchase at the
organization's fundraising auction?

Answer
     The answer is premised on the following representations made to the
Committee: The activities of the organization include: 1) engaging in
political activities; 2) direct participation in litigation it has
identified as having an impact on the legal rights of women; and 3)
lobbying on such issues.
     CJC Canon 7(A) provides for limitations on a judicial officer's
political activities.   Those restrictions 1) prevent a judicial officer
from engaging in any political activities except on behalf of measures with
improve the law, the legal system and the administration of justice (CJC
7(A)(4)) and 2) prevent a judicial officer from contributing to a political
organization (CJC Canon 7(A)(2)).  CJC Canon 7(B)(1)(c) provides that
judicial officers should not announce their views on disputed legal or
political issues.  CJC Canon 5(B)(1) provides that judges may participate
in extrajudicial activities that do not reflect adversely upon their
impartiality or interfere with the performance of their judicial duties
provided that the organization will not be regularly engaged in adversary
proceedings in any court.  The comment to this provision amplifies this
restriction by discussing types of organizations which may make policy
decisions that may have political significance or imply commitment to
causes that may come before the courts for adjudication.  We therefore,
answer each question as follows:
     1.  A judicial officer should not be a member of this organization
because it regularly engages in adversary proceedings in court and takes
positions on disputed legal or political issues.
     2.  Because the organization regularly engages in adversary
proceedings in court and takes positions on disputed legal or political
issues a judicial officer should not purchase a ticket for and attend the
organization's annual dinner, proceeds of which go directly to fundraising
for the organization.  It does not matter if the ticket is complimentary
because there is an appearance, which cannot be overcome, that the judicial
officer supports activities in which the organization engages.
     3.  A judicial officer should neither attend nor make a purchase at
the organization's fundraising auction.

Comment
     See Opinion 91-27 for a general discussion of the factors a judicial
officer should consider when weighing the appropriateness of attending an
event.