SUPPORT OF BOND ELECTION
Opinion No. 64 (1982)*
QUESTION: May a judge actively support a bond election to raise funds
to develop a city water project?
ANSWER: No, for several reasons. First, a judge should regulate his
outside activities to minimize the risk of conflict with his judicial duties. Elections
often are contested, and to actively engage in a bond election could interfere with the
judicial responsibility of the judge. Secondly, a judge should refrain from using the
prestige of his office to help a political organization to raise funds. Canon 5, Code of Judicial Conduct. Thirdly, a
judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary. Involvement in an
election, other than his own, by a judge tends to raise questions of why he is involved
and casts doubts on his capacity to decide impartially an issue that may come before him.
A majority of the Committee is of the opinion that to actively participate in such an
election would violate the Code of Judicial Conduct.
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*Canon 5B(2) was amended effective December 19, 1989.