State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judge permit the use of his or her endorsement of a friend’s character along with the judge’s name and former nonjudicial position which would be used in an advertising flyer for the friend’s business?

Answer

Our answer is premised on the following representations made to the committee: 1) the judge has been asked to write a letter of recommendation for a friend; 2) a quote from this letter would be used in an advertising flyer for the friend’s business; 3) the business works with law firms in the area where the judge sits; and 4) the judge would be identified on the flyer by name accompanied by the former nonjudicial position as the source of the quote.

Based on these representations, it is not proper under CJC Canon 2(B) for the judge to permit the use of his or her endorsement of a friend’s character in an advertising flyer for the friend’s business since it would lend the prestige of the office to advance the private interests of others.

Opinion 87-04

06/26/1987