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Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics – 2026

What an Alabama judge may and may not do, in seven canons. Each canon's title IS its rule: a judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary (1), should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities (2), should perform the duties of the office impartially and diligently (3), may engage in activities to improve the law, the legal system and the administration of justice (4), should regulate extra-judicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with judicial duties (5), should regularly file reports of financial interests (6), and shall refrain from political activity inappropriate to judicial office (7). The Preamble records that the first Code of Legal Ethics in the United States was formulated and adopted by the Alabama State Bar Association in 1887 and adopted with only minor changes by Georgia, Virginia and other states. A closing section covers compliance with the canons and their effective date. Canon 3 on impartial and diligent performance is the longest and the one most often applied in disqualification practice.

Browse all 9 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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Preamble Preamble Canon 1 A judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary. Canon 2 A judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all his activities. Canon 3 A judge should perform the duties of his office impartially and diligently. Canon 4 A judge may engage in activities to improve the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice. Canon 5 A judge should regulate his extra-judicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with his judicial duties. Canon 6 A judge should regularly file reports of his financial interests. Canon 7 A judge or a judicial candidate shall refrain from political activity inappropriate to judicial office. Compliance with the Canons of Judicial Ethics and Compliance with the Canons of Judicial Ethics and Effective Date.