State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Opinion 93-32

Question

  1. May a judicial officer be a member of a committee which is supporting the bond issue for the construction of a new juvenile court facility?

  2. May a judicial officer participate in the planning of a fundraising event put on by that committee?

  3. May a judicial officer be listed on an invitation to a fundraising event as a sponsor or as a person requesting the presence of the invitee?

  4. May a judicial officer be listed on the committee's letterhead as a member of the committee, when such letterhead is used for an invitation to a fundraising event?

  5. May a judicial officer attend a fundraising event or contribute money to the committee?

  6. May a judicial officer speak at a fundraising event to support the bond measure or to ask for financial support for the committee?

Answer

CJC Canon 4(A) provides in part that judicial officers may participate in activities concerning the administration of justice. CJC Canon 4(C) provides in part that judicial officers may serve as members, officers, or directors of an organization that is devoted to the improvement of the administration of justice. CJC Canon 4(C) further provides that judicial officers may assist the organization that is devoted to the improvement of the administration of justice in fundraising but judicial officers should not personally participate in public fundraising activities. CJC Canon 7(A)(4) provides that judges may engage in political activities on behalf of measures to improve the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice.

Based on the aforementioned Code of Judicial Conduct provisions a judicial officer:

  1. May be a member of a committee which is supporting the bond issue for the construction of a new juvenile court facility.

  2. May participate in the planning of a fundraising event put on by that committee.

  3. May not be listed on an invitation to a fundraising event as a sponsor or as a person requesting the presence of the invitee.

  4. May not be listed on the committee's letterhead as a member of the committee, when the letterhead is used for an invitation to a fundraising event.

  5. May attend a fundraising event or contribute money to a committee supporting the bond issue for the construction of a new juvenile court facility.

  6. May not speak at a fundraising event to support the bond measure or to ask for financial support for the committee.

See also Opinions 92-5 and 93-19.

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 93-32—CJC Canon 7(A)(4) became 7(A)(5).

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
CJC 4.1

Opinion 93-32

12/30/1993

 

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