State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judicial officer attend his or her own campaign fundraising event for which admission tickets are sold?

Answer

CJC Canon 7(B)(2) provides that candidates for judicial office shall not personally solicit or accept campaign contributions. A candidate may not attend a campaign event at which admission tickets are sold as the appearance would amount to the judicial officer participating indirectly in the solicitation of funds which is prohibited by Canon 7(B)(2).

A judicial candidate may attend a campaign fundraising event where an admission fee is not charged. At these events the general practice is to have the fundraising take place out of the presence of the judicial candidate by having the candidate either make an appearance before there is any solicitation for contributions or to have the solicitation take place in a location at which the candidate is not present. This avoids the appearance of indirect solicitation of funds because the candidate is unaware of who has and has not made a contribution.

Opinion 95-24

12/27/1995