STATE OF WASHINGTON
ETHICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OPINION NO. 95-3



Issue
     May a judicial officer be a member of a group of citizens who are
joining together to encourage the passage of a school levy?

     The following facts were submitted to the committee: A judicial
officer has been asked to be a member of a group of citizens who are
joining together to encourage passage of a school levy.  It is important to
the operation of the school district that this levy pass.  The judicial
officer would like to participate on the committee.  The judicial officer
expects to speak to individuals and groups and send letters to residents of
the district.  The judicial officer will not directly or indirectly engage
in any fundraising activities.

Answer
     In order to analyze whether it is appropriate under In Re Staples, 105
Wn.2d 905, 719 P.2d 558 (1986) for a judicial officer to participate in a
political activity the judicial officer should considering the following:

     1) Whether the political activity is on behalf of measures to improve
the law, the legal system or the administration of justice.

     2) Whether the issue is a partisan political activity.

     The Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 7(A)(4) prohibits a judicial
officer from supporting a ballot measure that is unrelated to the law, the
legal system and the administration of justice.  The ballot issue in
Staples concerned an activity related to the law, the legal system and the
administration of justice.  The support of a school levy is not concerned
with a law related activity, therefore, a judicial officer is not permitted
to join a group of citizens who have joined together to encourage the
passage of a school levy.