sunEthics

A judge may serve as a paid college football referee as long as it does not conflict with judicial duties.  [Added 4/26/13]

    Judge asked the Florida Supreme Court’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee whether it would be permissible to serve as a college football referee and be paid reasonable compensation for doing so.  Judge stated that it was unlikely that any of the participating schools would appear in Judge’s court.   The Committee answered that the activity would be ethically permissible “as long as the activity does not conflict with judicial duties.”

    The Committee noted that Canon 5B of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct encourages a judge to participate in extrajudicial activities “subject to the requirements of the Code.”  Among the Code’s requirements are that extra-judicial activities do not cast doubt on the judge’s impartiality, do not demean the judicial office, and do not interfere with the proper performance of judicial duties.  Canon 5A.  Also, any compensation or expense reimbursements paid to the judge must reasonable, must not give the appearance of influencing the judge, and must be properly reported.  Canon 6A, Canon 6B.  Judicial Ethics Advisory Opinion 2013-07.

sunEthics is produced by Tim Chinaris, and hosted by Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.  Please read our disclaimers.  Search our site, or view previously posted summaries using our SUBJECT INDEX.  © 2013