ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
STATE OF WASHINGTON
OPINION NO. 88-6



QUESTION

     May a superior court judge, who has announced impending retirement,
publicly endorse the candidacy of a commissioner who intends to run for the
position presently held by that superior court judge?

     May a judge, while still holding office, and after having announced
impending retirement, endorse the candidacy by lending the judge’s name as
honorary chair of a campaign committee for and on behalf of the
commissioner’s candidacy for the superior court position?


Answer

     CJC Canon 7(A)(1)(b) would permit a Superior Court judge, who has
announced impending retirement, to publicly endorse the candidacy of the
commissioner who intends to run for that judge’s position since it is a
judicial position.  The judge, however, should not act as the chair of the
campaign committee s that position, whether honorary or not, involves a
more consistent involvement in the campaign than does an endorsement.  It
is difficult to make distinctions as to what activities a judge, as chair,
may or may not perform and it may interfere with the judge’s judicial
duties which must take precedence over all other activities.