2010-13 (May 25, 2010)
Awards & Honors; Canons 2, 3, 4 & 5

Issue: May a Judicial Official receive an award from a public agency that represents the interests of a distinct segment of the criminal justice field for services that the Judicial Official provided prior to his or her appointment as a Judicial Official?

Response: Based upon the information provided, the Committee unanimously determined that the Judicial Official may receive the award provided that (1) it is made clear at the ceremony and in any promotional materials that the award is strictly for the Judicial Official’s exemplary service prior to becoming a Judicial Official and (2) the Judicial Official takes care to avoid any possible appearance of ongoing affiliation with or partiality toward his/her former place of employment within the criminal justice field or toward the interest represented by the public agency giving the award.