State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Opinion 87-05

Question

May a judge attend events planned by non-judges for the purpose of showing a demonstration videotape of a history of women judges so long as they are not present at any times when there is solicitation for funds to support the project?

Answer

A judge may attend a fund raising event even though the judge may not engage in fund raising activities or be a speaker or the guest of honor at the organization’s fund raising event (CJC Canon 5(B)(2)) subject to the following: A judge should consider whether his or her presence at the event could be construed as lending the prestige of the judicial office for fundraising purposes which is interdicted in CJC Canon 5(B)(2).

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 3.7
CJC 3.7(B), which permits limited solicitation from a judge’s family or from other judges over whom the judge does not exercise supervisory or appellate authority.
CJC 3.7(C) law related events.

Opinion 87-05

06/26/1987

 

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