QUESTION: May a part-time municipal judge publicly endorse judicial or non-judicial candidates for political office?

ANSWER: Canon 2B of the Code of Judicial Conduct states that a judge should not lend the prestige of his or her office to advance the private interest of others. The Committee is of the opinion that the public endorsement of another person's candidacy necessarily involves the use of the prestige of the judge and of his other office.

Canon 8A, as amended in 1987, provides that judges of municipal courts shall comply with the Code, and Canon 8B(1) does not exempt part-time judges from Canon 2. The Committee is of the opinion that a part-time municipal judge would violate the Code of Judicial Conduct by publicly endorsing a candidate for public office.

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*Canon 8, Compliance, was amended effective September 1, 1990. Canon 7 was amended effective June 26, 1990.