State of Washington

Ethics Advisory Committee

Opinion 93-25

Question

May a sitting state court judge write letters to local newspapers in support of another sitting judge's candidacy in a contested election for the bench?

Answer

CJC Canon 7(A)(2) provides in part that judges holding offices filled by public election between competing candidates may attend political gatherings and speak to such gatherings on the judge's own behalf or that of another judicial candidate. CJC Canon 7(A)(2) permits a sitting judge to publicly endorse another sitting judge's candidacy in a contested election. This support may include writing letters to local newspapers in support of another sitting judge's candidacy in a contested election for the bench.

See also Opinion 88-13.

NOTE: Effective June 23, 1995, the Supreme Court amended the Code of Judicial Conduct. In addition to reviewing the ethics advisory opinions, the following should be noted:

Opinion 93-25—See also CJC Canon 7(A)(1)(b).

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 4.1(A)(3)
CJC 4.1(A)(9)

Opinion 93-25

09/12/1993

 

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