STATE OF WASHINGTON
ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OPINION NO. 93-25

Question
     May a sitting state court judge write letters to local newspapers in
support of another sitting judge's candidacy in a contested election for
the bench?

Answer
     CJC Canon 7(A)(2) provides in part that judges holding offices filled
by public election between competing candidates may attend political
gatherings and speak to such gatherings on the judge's own behalf or that
of another judicial candidate.  CJC Canon 7(A)(2) permits a sitting judge
to publicly endorse another sitting judge's candidacy in a contested
election.  This support may include writing letters to local newspapers in
support of another sitting judge's candidacy in a contested election for
the bench.

Comment See also Opinion 88-13.