State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

Is it proper for a district court judge to serve on a municipal public safety advisory committee?

Answer

Our answer is premised on the following representations made to the committee: 1) the city has its own municipal court, judge and facilities separate from the district court; 2) the Municipal Public Safety Committee is now comprised of citizens which will give advice on new municipal facilities concerning scope, cost, and timing.
Based on these representations, a district court judge may serve as a member of a Municipal Public Safety Committee. CJC Canon 5(B).

Even though it is proper for the judge to serve as a member of the Municipal Public Safety Committee, the nature of that committee may change. Therefore, the judge must be sensitive to such changes and ascertain the propriety of continuing to be associated with it.

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 3.1 CJC 3.7 CJC 3.4

Opinion 87-02

6/26/1987