2009-05 (January 27, 2009)
Recommendations; Disclosure/Disqualification; Canons 2 & 3B;
C.G.S. § 51-39a

Issue: May a Judicial Official provide a letter of support for an attorney who has been nominated to receive a professional service award from a private organization?

Response: Based upon the facts presented, the Committee unanimously approved the request subject to the following conditions: (1) the Judicial Official has personal knowledge of the candidate’s qualifications that are relevant to the particular award, (2) the candidate is not, as noted in the inquiry, a relative within the meaning of the Code or C.G.S. § 51-39a, (3) the Judicial Official indicates that the opinions expressed represent the personal opinions of the Judicial Official, (4) neither the nominated attorney nor members of his or her law firm or the organization giving the award have an appearance before the Judicial Official at the time the recommendation is provided or for a reasonable period, under the circumstances, before or after the submission of the letter of support, and (5) if the Judicial Official believes that recusal would be required in order to comply with condition (4) because his or her fairness would be impaired, and that recusal is likely to be frequent, the Judicial Official should not provide the letter of support.