State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Opinion 92-09

Question

May a judge publicly support the continuation of a community college legal secretary program?

May judges write a letter to the Board of Trustees and the CEO of a community college urging the retention of the legal secretaries program and requesting that the community college continue to hire a full-time instructor in that program?

Answer

CJC Canon 4(C) permits judges to make recommendations to public fund granting agencies on projects and programs concerning the law, the legal system and the administration of justice. Urging the retention of a local community college legal secretaries program by writing a letter to the community college board of trustees (which makes the decision as to which and to what extent such programs will be funded) is permitted under this section of the Code.

The Supreme Court adopted a new Code of Judicial Conduct effective January 1, 2011. In addition to reviewing the ethics advisory opinions, the following should be noted:

CJC 3.1
CJC 3.7
CJC 3.7 Comment [9]

Opinion 92-09

08/25/1992

 

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