Connecticut Committee on Judicial Ethics
Informal Opinion Summaries
2008-07 (September 26, 2008)
Fundraising; Soliciting
Contributions; Charitable Activities; Gifts; Family;
Canons 2 & 5
Issue:
May a Judicial Official’s spouse raise funds to enable the Judicial
Official to qualify for participation in a charitable golf tournament?
Response:
Based upon the facts presented, the Committee unanimously agreed that the
Judicial Official’s spouse could not solicit charitable donations that would be
used to make-up a portion of the Judicial Official’s minimum fundraising
contribution to enable the Judicial Official to qualify for participation in a
charity golf tournament. Although the facts did not reveal how it was
contemplated that the Judicial Official’s spouse would solicit such donations,
the Committee determined that it would be improper for the spouse to (1) solicit
funds without disclosing to donors that the purpose was to enable the Judicial
Official to participate, (2) act as the Judicial Official’s agent in soliciting
funds for the charity, or (3) solicit a “gift” for the Judicial Official.
Committee on Judicial Ethics