Description: The Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Ethics seeks public comment on whether to add new commentary to canon 2B addressing two different issues. First, proposed commentary would state that a judge who “likes,” rates, or comments on a product, service, or business on social media may violate the canon’s prohibition against lending the prestige of judicial office to advance the pecuniary interests of others, even if the judge is not identified as a judge in the post. It would also state that a judge may not “dislike,” rate negatively, or submit negative comments about a product, service, or business on the Internet. Second, proposed commentary would add a cross-reference to canon 4C(3)(d)(iv), which allows a judge to be a speaker, guest of honor, or recipient of an award for public or charitable service at a fundraising event. After receiving and reviewing comments on these proposals, the committee will make recommendations to the Supreme Court regarding the proposed amendments.

Category: Supreme Court

Item Number: SP19-04

Deadline: December 2, 2019

File: sp19-04.pdf