State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judicial officer appear as a model at a department store fashion show where some of the admission proceeds will be donated to charity?

Answer

CJC Canon 5(B)(2) provides that judicial officers should not solicit funds for any educational, religious, charitable, fraternal or civic organization. A judicial officer may not appear as a model at a fashion show where some of the admission proceeds will be donated to charity because that activity is soliciting funds for an organization which is prohibited by CJC Canon 5(B)(2).

NOTE: Effective June 23, 1995, the Supreme Court amended the Code of Judicial Conduct. In addition to reviewing the ethics advisory opinions, the following should be noted: Opinion 93-5—The language in CJC Canon 5(B)(2) was modified. 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(B)

Opinion 93-05

2/12/1993