State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judicial officer serve on the board of a law school clinic where the board responsibilities include developing clinic curriculum, determining whether the clinic should expand to additional locations and making recommendations on program development and enhancement?

Answer

CJC Canon 4(A) provides in part that judges may participate in activities concerning the law, the legal system and the administration of justice. Canon 4(C) provides in part that judges may serve on the board of an organization which is devoted to the law, the legal system and the administration of justice. Serving on the board of the law school clinic is permitted under CJC Canon 4 because the clinic is concerned with training law students and the board does not give advice to program participants about any pending cases.

Opinion 02-06

03/29/2002