State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judicial officer chair a committee, established by the mayor, which is to make recommendations to the city council on the adoption of a code of ethics and the establishment of an ethics board?

Answer

CJC Canon 5(G) states that a judge should not accept appointment to a governmental committee that is concerned with issues of fact or policy other than the improvement of the law, the legal system or the administration of justice. Thus, a judicial officer may not chair an ethics committee established by the mayor.

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 3.4

Opinion 90-16

9/24/1990