Rule 1.1 1: Compliance with the Law

Judges have to follow the law, just like everyone else. This includes regular laws that apply to all citizens, as well as the special rules judges must follow because of their job, known as the Code of Judicial Conduct.

This rule is simple but sets the foundation for everything else judges do. If a judge breaks the law or ignores the ethics rules that apply to their position, they can face discipline. The idea is that judges are supposed to uphold the law, so they need to hold themselves to that same standard in their own conduct, both on and off the bench.