2008-17 (November 26, 2008)
Recommendations; Canons 2 & 3

Issue: May a Judicial Official respond to a request from an individual for a recommendation of an attorney to represent a person in a specific legal matter?

Response: Based upon the facts presented, the Committee unanimously agreed that a Judicial Official may recommend an attorney to an individual provided that the individual given the recommendation has a sufficiently close relationship to the Judicial Official that the Judicial Official would automatically recuse himself or herself from a case involving that person independent of whether the Judicial Official provides a recommendation. If a Judicial Official provides a recommendation, he/she should recommend multiple names of counsel.