State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a part-time judicial officer attend and/or purchase tickets to a political fundraising event for local nonjudicial candidates?

Answer

The Preamble 1(A)(1) to the Code of Judicial Conduct does not exempt a part-time judicial officer from complying with the provisions of CJC Canon 7(A). Therefore, a part-time judicial officer may not attend or purchase tickets to a political fundraising event for local nonjudicial candidates.

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 4.1

Opinion 90-11

8/3/1990