2008-20 (December 10, 2008)
Off the Bench Conduct; Media; Canon 3

Issue: May a Judicial Official, either individually or on behalf of a group of Judicial Officials, initiate communications with the media concerning another Judicial Official’s years of service, that Judicial Officials are entitled to a presumption of innocence the same as everyone else, and that a case involving a Judicial Official should be decided in court based upon the evidence presented?

Response: Based upon the facts presented, the Committee unanimously decided that the proposed comments were not appropriate and would violate Canon 3(a)(6). It was noted that there was an absolute prohibition on initiating such comments and that qualifying the comments by noting that they were the personal opinion of the Judicial Official would not obviate the ethical prohibition.