Rule 2.12 Supervisory Duties

This rule says judges are responsible for the people who work under them. If a judge has staff, clerks, or other court officials working for them, the judge has to make sure those people follow the same ethical rules that judges must follow. In other words, a judge can't look the other way if someone on their staff acts improperly. The judge is expected to guide and correct their team so everyone acts appropriately.

The rule also covers judges who supervise other judges, like a chief judge overseeing other judges in a courthouse. That supervising judge must take reasonable steps to make sure the judges under them are doing their jobs correctly. This includes making sure cases move forward without unnecessary delays. If a judge is falling behind on their caseload or not handling matters properly, the supervising judge is expected to step in and address it.

Basically, this rule creates a chain of accountability. Judges cannot ignore misconduct or poor performance by people they oversee, whether that's court staff or other judges. They have a duty to actively manage their courts and make sure everyone under their authority is doing their job the right way.