STATE OF WASHINGTON
ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OPINION NO. 92-18

Question
     1.  May a judicial officer refuse to cross the picket line made up of
striking county employees and stay away from the courthouse?
     2.  May the judicial officer arrange to hold court in a location away
from the courthouse?
     3.  May a judicial officer cancel criminal proceedings such as
prisoner first appearance dockets, arraignments and trial dockets?
     4.  May a judicial officer cancel civil proceedings such as anti-
harassment cases, domestic cases and civil jury trials?

Answer
     1.  It would be a violation of CJC Canon 2 and Canon 3(A)(5) for a
judicial officer to refuse to cross the picket line and stay away from
courthouse.  A judicial officer has a responsibility to see that the
court's business is conducted promptly.
     2.  A judicial officer should not make arrangements to hold court in a
location away from the courthouse to avoid crossing a picket line because
judicial duties should be performed at the courthouse unless the law
provides that those duties may be discharged in another location.
     3.  It would be a violation of Canon 3(A)(5) for a judicial officer to
cancel criminal proceedings such as prisoner first appearance dockets,
arraignments and trial dockets solely because of a labor dispute.  A
judicial officer has a duty to dispose promptly of the business of the
court.
     4.  It would be a violation of Canon 3(A)(5) for a judicial officer to
cancel civil proceedings such as anti-harassment cases, domestic cases and
civil jury trials solely because of a labor dispute.  A judicial officer
has a duty to dispose promptly of the business of the court.