Connecticut Committee on Judicial Ethics
Informal Opinion Summaries
2009-22 (July 1, 2009)
Recommendations; Canon 2; C.G.S. § 51-39a
Issue:
May a
Judicial Official provide a letter of recommendation
to the director of a law school admission’s office
on behalf of an employee of a former business
client?
Response:
Based upon the information provided, including that
the law school requires a letter of reference that
discusses the applicant’s academic and intellectual
abilities, that the Judicial Official had worked
with the applicant, who is not a relative within the
meaning of the Code of Judicial Conduct or Conn.
Gen. Stat. § 51-39a, on various cases that the
Judicial Official had handled for the client and
that the client is not an entity that is likely to
appear before the Judicial Official, the Committee
unanimously agreed that the Judicial Official could
provide a letter of recommendation. The Judicial
Official also was advised that he or she could
identify the office that he or she holds and that
while the Judicial Official could use Judicial
Branch letterhead, if he or she did so, the letter
needed to indicate that the opinions expressed were
the personal opinions of the Judicial Official.
Committee on Judicial Ethics