State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Question

May a judicial officer participate as a member of a screening committee whose function will be to screen, interview and make recommendations to the school board with respect to applicants for the position of school principal?

Answer

CJC Canon 5(B) provides that judicial officers may participate in civic activities that do not reflect adversely upon their impartiality or interfere with the performance of their judicial duties. Therefore, a judicial officer may participate as a member of a screening committee whose function will be to screen, interview and make recommendations to the school board with respect to applicants for the position of school principal. Given that this committee will be functioning for only a very short period of time and has a narrow focus, it is very unlikely that it will interfere with the performance of the judicial officer's duties or that it would become involved in adversary proceedings.

Opinion 93-13

04/09/1993