Connecticut Committee on Judicial Ethics
Informal Opinion Summaries
2008-10 (October 1, 2008)
Recommendations; Family;
Canon 2, 3 & 4
Issue:
May a Judicial Official respond to a request from the Judicial Selection
Commission requesting a letter of reference for a relative being considered for
approval?
Response:
Based upon the facts presented, the Committee unanimously agreed that the
Judicial Official, in response to a request from the Judicial Selection
Commission, should decline to write a letter of recommendation for a relative
who is being considered for a judgeship, because to do so would be to “knowingly
advocate or knowingly participate in the appointment . . . of a relative in or
to a position in the judicial branch” in violation of Canon 3 (b) (5).
Committee on Judicial Ethics