State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judicial officer write a letter on court stationery commending a person for achieving a scouting rank?

Answer

A judicial officer may write a letter on court stationery commending a person for achieving a scouting rank. A congratulatory letter does not lend the prestige of the office to advance the private interests of another.

The Supreme Court adopted a new Code of Judicial Conduct effective January 1, 2011. In addition to reviewing the ethics advisory opinions, the following should be noted: CJC 1.3

Opinion 00-09

9/14/2000