State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

Is it proper for a judge to advertise in a bar publication the sale of a book the judge has authored and to handle the sales transactions personally?

Answer

It is proper for a judge to write a book concerning the legal system and for the sale of the book to be advertised in a bar publication. However, any marketing of the book should be handled by a third party and any advertisement must contain sufficient information to reveal that the transaction is being handled by a third party. The judge should also retain a measure of control over the advertising so that it does not exploit the judicial position or use the prestige of the judge’s office to advance the private interests of others.

Opinion 86-02

04/04/1986