State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a full time district court commissioner counsel and represent outside private clients, so long as the commissioner does so outside of court working hours and does not represent them in the district court in which the commissioner has been appointed to serve?

Answer

A full-time court commissioner may not engage in the practice of law. (CJC Preamble 1, CJC Canon 5(F).)

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 3.10

Opinion 88-01

1/28/1988