State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judicial officer serve on a judicially authorized task force which will gather information on how the judicial benefit package attracts and retains quality people to the judiciary? If it is appropriate, may a judicial officer use state resources such as email and the telephone to discuss this issue with other members of the task force and to gather this information?

The judiciary has authorized a task force made up of a group of judicial officers to gather information on how the judicial benefit package attracts and retains quality people to the judiciary. The task force will be presenting its findings and recommendations to the judiciary.

Answer

CJC Canon 4(A) provides in part that judges may participate in activities concerning the law, legal system and the administration of justice. Attracting the best persons to serve as members of the judiciary is paramount to maintaining the integrity of the judicial system and public confidence in it. Having competitive salaries and benefits is essential to attracting high caliber persons to the judiciary therefore, judicial officers may serve on a task force to gather information on how the judicial benefit package attracts and retains quality people to the judiciary. Because this is an authorized judicial activity under CJC Canon 4(A), judicial officers may use state resources such as email and telephones to discuss the issue with other members of the task force and to gather this information. The prohibition in RCW 42.52.160 is not applicable because the use of state resources in this instance is not for the private gain or benefit of the judicial officers who have been appointed to serve on this task force.

Opinion 02-13

07/25/2002