Judicial Ethics Advisory Opinion Summaries 2021 Index – Through April COURT MANAGEMENT California Expedited Opinion 2021-38 (https://www.judicialethicsopinions.ca.gov/wp- content/uploads/CJEO-Expedited-Opinion-2021-038.pdf) (accepting services of law firm associate in chambers) (2/21) California Expedited Opinion 2021-39 (https://www.judicialethicsopinions.ca.gov/wp- content/uploads/CJEO-Expedited-Opinion-2021-039.pdf) (exchanging gifts with court staff) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2020-198 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-198.htm) (suggesting amendment of law) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2020-202 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20- 202%20Revised%20and%20Amended.htm) (courthouse artwork) (2/21) CASE MANAGEMENT New York Advisory Opinion 2020-206 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-206.htm) (proposed plea reduction form) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-9 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-09.htm) (use of “they” pronoun) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-46 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-46.htm) (accepting or rejecting plea dispositions) (4/21) Virginia Advisory Opinion 2020-1 (http://www.courts.state.va.us/programs/jeac/opinions/2020/20_1.pdf) (notice to tenants about legal and financial assistance) (4/21) PANDEMIC New York Advisory Opinion 2020-206 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-206.htm) (proposed plea reduction form) (2/21) RELATIONSHIP WITH TOWN, VILLAGE, PROSECUTORS New York Advisory Opinion 2020-196 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-196.htm) (evaluating performance of town employee) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2020-206 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-206.htm) (proposed plea reduction form) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-26 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-26.htm) (town judge also being employed by town in non-judicial capacity; attending town board meetings; providing reports to town board) (4/21) EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS Illinois Advisory Opinion 2020-1 (https://www.ija.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=315:2020-1--judge-s- duty-to-recuse-following-unsolicited-ex-parte-communication&catid=23:opinions&Itemid=139) (unsolicited ex parte communication) (2/21) DISCIPLINARY RESPONSIBILITIES Massachusetts Advisory Opinion 2021-1 (https://www.mass.gov/opinion/cje-opinion-no-2021- 01) (disciplinary responsibilities; other judge’s Facebook posts) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2020-191/2020-192 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-191%20&%2020-192.htm) (disciplinary responsibilities) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2020-207 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-207.htm) (disciplinary responsibilities) (2/21) 2 New York Advisory Opinion 2020-213 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-213.htm) (disciplinary responsibilities; attorney) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-19 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-19.htm) (disciplinary responsibilities) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-45 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-45.htm) (disclosing report of attorney to grievance committee) (4/21) REPORTING CRIMINAL CONDUCT New York Advisory Opinion 2020-201 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-201.htm) (letter alleging law enforcement misconduct) (2/21) STAFF – DISQUALIFICATION New York Advisory Opinion 2021-16(A) (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-16(A).htm) (law clerk previously served as law clerk to former judge who is now government attorney) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-18 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-18.htm) (law clerk’s relative’s former firm) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-21 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-21.htm) (law clerk’s attorney) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-39 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-39.htm) (attorney who is relative of law clerk) (4/21) 3 STAFF – MISCELLANEOUS New York Advisory Opinion 2020-197 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-197.htm) (court staff acting as fiduciary) (2/21) Oklahoma Advisory Opinion 2020-3 (https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=487281) (secretary/bailiff running for court clerk) (4/21) DISQUALIFICATION – FAMILY MEMBER IS PROSECUTOR, PUBLIC DEFENDER New York Advisory Opinion 2020-211 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-211.htm) (spouse is assistant county attorney) (2/21) DISQUALIFICATION – JUDGE IS FORMER PROSECUTOR, GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY, PUBLIC OFFICIAL New Mexico Advisory Opinion 2021-1 (http://jec.unm.edu/manuals-resources/advisory- opinions/NM%20Advisory%20Opn%2021-01.pdf) (former agency secretary and deputy secretary) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-5 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-05%20.htm) (acted as prosecutor in underlying case) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-7 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-07.htm) (former assistant district attorney) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-20 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-20.htm) (former assistant district attorney) (4/21) DISQUALIFICATION – FORMER LAW FIRM New York Advisory Opinion 2021-17 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-17.htm) (former law firm) (4/21) 4 DISQUALIFICATION – FORMER EMPLOYMENT New York Advisory Opinion 2020-185 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-185.htm) (served process for private law office; spouse is secretary at law firm) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-29 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-29.htm) (former employer) (4/21) DISQUALIFICATION – ATTORNEY REPRESENTING JUDGE OR FAMILY MEMBER South Carolina Advisory Opinion 1-2021 (https://www.sccourts.org/advisoryOpinions/html/01- 2021.pdf) (attorney judge consulted) (2/21) DISQUALIFICATION – NON-FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH PARTY New York Advisory Opinion 2021-4 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-04.htm) (disqualification; defendant is judge’s former student) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-14 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-14.htm) (client of spouse’s firm) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-23 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-23.htm) (parties or attorney in judge’s lawsuit on behalf of minor child) (4/21) DISQUALIFICATION – NON-FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ATTORNEY New York Advisory Opinion 2021-6 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-06.htm) (attorney is sibling of judge’s friend) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-16(B) (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-16(B).htm) (attorney in controversial lawsuit challenging employment actions taken by judge’s close relative) (4/21) 5 New York Advisory Opinion 2021-23 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-23.htm) (parties or attorney in judge’s lawsuit on behalf of minor child) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-48 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-48.htm) (spouse’s former law firm, previous close social relationship with attorney) (4/21) South Carolina Advisory Opinion 6-2021 (https://www.sccourts.org/advisoryOpinions/html/06- 2021.pdf) (attorney rents office space to spouse) (4/21) Washington Advisory Opinion 2021-1 (https://www.courts.wa.gov/programs_orgs/pos_ethics/?fa=pos_ethics.dispopin&mode=2101) (prosecutor is opponent in election for different judicial position) (4/21) DISQUALIFICATION – EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS Illinois Advisory Opinion 2020-1 (https://www.ija.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=315:2020-1--judge-s- duty-to-recuse-following-unsolicited-ex-parte-communication&catid=23:opinions&Itemid=139) (unsolicited ex parte communication) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2020-195 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-195.htm) (ex parte communication from prosecutor) (2/21) DISQUALIFICATION – MISCELLANEOUS New York Advisory Opinion 2021-2 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-02.htm) (providing reason for discretionary recusal) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-15 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-15.htm) (relative is law enforcement officer) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-27 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-27.htm) (former client) (4/21) 6 New York Advisory Opinion 2021-49 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-49.htm) (order disqualification of attorney) (4/21) WRITING, APPEARING ON RADIO, IN VIDEO, INTERVIEWS Florida Advisory Opinion 2021-3 (https://www.jud6.org/LegalCommunity/LegalPractice/opinions/jeacopinions/2021/2021- 03.html) (advocacy article re autistic students) (4/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2020-215 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/20-215.htm) (documentary about case judge prosecuted) (2/21) New York Advisory Opinion 2021-24 (https://www.nycourts.gov/legacyhtm/ip/judicialethics/opinions/21-24.htm) (interview with news station)