Judges

Question 1

What is a judge?

Answer 1

anyone who is authorized to perfrom judicial functions (auch magistrate)

Question 2

Ex parte communications from judge

Answer 2

Grds. prohibited

Ausn.
1. Scheduling, administrative, emergency
2. Consulting disinterested legal expert
3. Consulting with other judges and court staff (solange er eigene responsibility nicht abrogated & avoid receiving factual information that is not part of the record)
4. Settlement effords
5. Expressly authorized by law

Question 3

Gifts: was erlaubt

Answer 3

Grds. dann nicht, wenn prohibited by law or would appear to underminde impartiality

aber, bestimmte Fallgruppen erlaubt:

A. may accept without public reporting:
a) value gifts from persons bei denen er sich sowieso disqualifizieren müsste = automatic disqualification rule (Bsp. teure watch von altem Arbeitgeber erlaubt)
b) little value Sachen etc

B. may accept with public reporting
a) gifts from sources who have appeared or are likely to appear before court
b) public testimonial gifts
c) free events with law-related functions etc.

Question 4

Extrajudicial activites

Answer 4

Pemitted in a way that minimizes the risk of conflict with judicial obligations

Bsp. Board einer organisation, die das Recht durch Klagen voranbringen will vor Gerichten, die niemals vor den Richter kommen, erlaubt

Question 5

Bias/prejudice/harassment

Answer 5

sehr zurückhaltend, kein negative stereotyping, attempted humor based on stereotypes and irrelevant references to personal characteristics

Question 6

When does judge disqualify?

Answer 6

1. Schritt: Wann Disqualification?
   a) Familienmitglied beteiligt in
   (1.) als party of the proceeding
   (2.) als lawyer in the proceeding
   (3.) als person, die more than de minimis interest hat
   (4.) likely to be material witness
   UND zwar eine Person im dritten degree of relationship to the judge! (1. degree judge, parents, child, 2. degree, seine Geschwister, grandparents, grandchild, 3. degree: great grandchild/niece/nephew, aunt uncle, NICHT: cousin)
2. Schritt: Parties can waive disqualification
   (1.) Judge discloses disqualification on record
   (2.) allowing the parties to consider it outside the presence of judge and court personnel

Question 7

Wahlen

Answer 7

judicial candidates may not personally solicit or accept campaign contributions, must be solicited or accepted through candidates campaign committee

Question 8

Letterhead

Answer 8

erlaubt, wenn reference personal und no likelihood that can be perceived as an attempt to exert pressure to gain advantage etc

Question 9

Darf Judge Spenden für irgendwas einsammeln?

Answer 9

Nein, persönlich auch nicht für charity etc.
Ausn. von judges family oder anderen judges, die ihm nicht übergeordnet sind