State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a full time District Court judge serve as an uncompensated hearing officer, as the designee of the county sheriff, to preside at property seizure/forfeiture hearings held pursuant to RCW 69.50.505(e)?

Answer

It is not proper under the Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 2(A) for a full time District Court judge to serve as an uncompensated hearing officer, as the designee of the county sheriff, to preside at property seizure/forfeiture hearings held pursuant to RCW 69.50.505(e).

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 1.2

Opinion 86-07

7/14/1986