State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judicial officer make statements about past experiences as a member of a charitable organization if the statement will be used in a series of newspaper advertisements educating the public about the positive impact the charitable organization has had on the lives of successful people?

Answer

CJC Canon 2(B) provides in part that judges may not use the prestige of the judicial office to advance the private interest of the judge or others. Canon 5(B) provides that judges may participate in charitable activities that do not reflect adversely upon their impartiality or interfere with the performance of their judicial duties. Subsection 5(B)(2) provides that judges should not use the prestige of their office to solicit contributions for any charitable organization.
CJC Canon 5(B) permits the judicial officer to provide quotes about past experiences with a charitable organization if the judicial title is not used with the statement. The use of the title with the statement would be using the prestige of the judicial office to advance the private interests of the charitable organization which is prohibited by Canon 2(B).

Also see Opinion 00-6.

Opinion 00-14

10/05/2000