Pg 29

Question 1

Can a judge accept a gift, or thing of value?

Answer 1

Not if it’s prohibited by law, or if it would appear to to a reasonable person to undermine his independence, integrity, or impartiality

Question 2

What kinds of items can a judge accept without having to publicly report?

Answer 2

Items with little intrinsic value, gifts or things of value from friends or relatives, ordinary social hospitality, commercial opportunities like special pricing or discounts as long as those same opportunities are available on the same terms to similarly situated people that are not judges, awards or prizes given to competitors for participating in draws or contests as long as they are open to people that are not judges, scholarships if available to similarly situated people on the same terms and criteria, books or magazines or videos supplied by publishers on a complementary basis for official use, gifts are benefits associated with a business or profession of the spouse or someone residing in the judge’s home but the incidentally benefit the judge

Question 3

What kinds of things can a judge accept but he has to report?

Answer 3

Gift incident to public testimony, invitations to attend events related to the bar or educational, religious, terrible, fraternal, or civic activities without charge (so long as the same event is offered to non-judges in similar ways), gifts or benefits of value if the source is a party, anytime a judge accepts a gift or thing of value without paying the fair market value, any benefit available to the general public or those that are not judges, anything that the judge is just an incidental beneficiary of or a gift primarily offered to others

Question 4

Do the rules about accepting gifts and benefits and things of value also apply to family members of a judge?

Answer 4

Yes, they apply to family and people living in the same house as the judge

Question 5

Can judges accept reimbursement of expenses?

Answer 5

Yes if it was needed and a reasonable expense for things like travel, food, housing, incidental expenses

Question 6

If a judge is going to be reimbursed for expenses, what is that limited to?

Answer 6

Actual costs reasonably incurred

Question 7

What are the CJC’s 3.15 reporting requirements for judges?

Answer 7

They must report the amount or value of compensation gotten from extrajudicial activities, gifts or things of value unless it doesn’t exceed a certain amount, reimbursement of expenses unless it doesn’t exceed a certain amount, as well as the date, place, nature of the activity, description of the gift of benefit, and its source

Question 8

How often must a public report of things of value or reimbursements given to a judge be reported?

Answer 8

At least annually, or 30 days after the conclusion of an event. The report is then filed as a public document

Question 9

What is the fourth judicial canon of the CDC?

Answer 9

A judge or candidate for judicial office can’t engage in political or campaign activity that is inconsistent with the independence, integrity, or impartiality of the judiciary

Question 10

Is it permissible for a judicial candidate or judge to act as a leader or hold office in a political organization?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

What are the things that a judge or judicial candidate cannot do regarding politics?

Answer 11

He cannot hold political office, can’t make speeches on behalf of a political organization, cannot publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for office, solicit funds or pay contributions to a political organization, attend or buy tickets for dinner sponsored by a political organization, publicly announce himself as a candidate for political office, solicit or except campaign contributions for the private benefit of the judge, use his staff to campaign for judicial office, disregard the truth or make false or misleading statements, make pledges or commitments that are inconsistent with the impartial performance of his duties

Question 12

Judges must be free of what in relation to political office?

Answer 12

Free of and appear to be free of political influence and political pressure

Question 13

If a judge is running for judicial office, what are the things he can do?

Answer 13

Make speeches, endorse or oppose another candidate for the same office, advertise, let his name be on political party ticket

Question 14

Can family members of a judge or judicial candidate engage in political activity?

Answer 14

Yes, but the judge cannot endorse them or get involved in their campaign

Question 15

What is the rule for judicial candidates in making statements during their campaign?

Answer 15

Must be scrupulously fair and accurate in all statements made during their campaign, and refrain from making statements that are false or misleading

Question 16

If a judicial candidate is accused of misconduct, what can he do?

Answer 16

He can make factually accurate public responses if unwarranted attacks have been made on him and can disavow the attacks and request that a third-party cease and desist

Question 17

Can a candidate for judicial office seek endorsement from a political partisan organization?

Answer 17

No, but they can seek any other endorsement

Question 18

A candidate for appointment to judicial office can communicate with the appointing authority and seek endorsements for appointment from anyone other than a political part as an organization, but in this process, what can’t they do?

Answer 18

They cannot make any promises, pledges, or commitments that are inconsistent with the impartial performance of adjudicative duties, cannot establish a campaign committee for fundraising, and cannot attend a partisan political gathering unless it is to celebrate a significant historical or patriotic event

Question 19

Can a candidate for appointment to judicial office attend a gathering for the hundredth anniversary of statehood?

Answer 19

Yes, because it is a historical or patriotic event

Question 20

Can a candidate for judicial office serve as an official representative at a historical event in American legion?

Answer 20

Yes

Question 21

Can a judicial candidate establish a campaign committee to manage his campaign?

Answer 21

Yes, but he is responsible to ensure the campaign follows the CJC

Question 22

What is the rule for candidates for judicial office using their staff to accept and solicit campaign contributions?

Answer 22

They can only ask for and take ones that are reasonable and under a certain dollar amount, and that comply with all requirements, and file a report of each person that makes contributions and the amount.

Question 23

Can a candidate for judicial office personally solicit contributions to his campaign?

Answer 23

No, but he can establish an independent committee to do that