Rule 2.14 Disability and Impairment

If a judge notices that a lawyer or another judge seems to be struggling because of drug or alcohol use, a mental health issue, or a physical condition, the judge must do something about it. The judge cannot just ignore the problem if there is a reasonable reason to think it is affecting that person's work.

One option the judge has is to quietly refer the person to a help program, like a lawyer assistance or judicial assistance program. This can be done confidentially, meaning the referral does not have to be made public. The goal is to get the person the help they need while protecting their privacy when possible.