JUDGE AS COLUMNIST
Opinion No. 63 (1982)
QUESTION: May a judge write a weekly column concerning legal matters
for publication in a newspaper?
ANSWER: Canon 4A of the Code
of Judicial Conduct states as follows: "[A Judge] may speak, write, lecture, teach,
and participate in other activities concerning the law, the legal system and the
administration of justice." The Committee is of the opinion that the Code of Judicial
Conduct encourages judges to write articles concerning the improvement of the law, the
legal system and the administration of justice, provided that in doing so he does not cast
doubt on his capacity to act impartially on any matter that may come before him. The
Committee is of the further opinion that a judge should not answer inquiries from the
public on any matter in the field of law, other than in those areas specifically
enumerated above.