Rule 4.2 2: Political and Campaign Activities of Judicial Candidates in Public Elections

(A) A judicial candidate* in a partisan, nonpartisan, or retention public election* shall:

(1) act at all times in a manner consistent with the independence,* integrity,* and impartiality* of the judiciary;

(2) comply with all applicable election, election campaign, and election campaign fund-raising laws and regulations;

(3) review and approve the content of all campaign statements and materials produced by the candidate or his or her campaign committee, as authorized by Rule 4.4, before their dissemination;

(4) take reasonable measures to ensure that other persons do not undertake on behalf of the candidate activities, other than those described in Rule 4.4, that the candidate is prohibited from doing by Rule 4.1; and

(5) notify the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications in writing, within one week after becoming a candidate, of the office sought and of the candidate's address and telephone number.

(B) A candidate for partisan elective judicial office may, in addition to those activities permitted at any time under Rule 4.1(C) and unless prohibited by law,* and not earlier than one (1) year before the primary or general election in which the candidate is running:

(1) establish a campaign committee and accept campaign contributions pursuant to the provisions of Rule 4.4;

(2) speak on behalf of his or her candidacy through any medium, including but not limited to advertisements, websites, or other campaign literature;

(3) publicly endorse and contribute to candidates for election to public office running in the same election cycle;

(4) attend dinners, fundraisers, or other events for candidates for public office running in the same election cycle and purchase a ticket for such an event and a ticket for a guest;

(5) seek, accept, or use endorsements from any person or organization, including a political organization; and

(6) identify himself or herself as a candidate of a political organization.

(C) A candidate for nonpartisan elective judicial office may, in addition to those activities permitted at any time under Rule 4.1(D) and unless prohibited by law, and not earlier than one (1) year before the primary or general election in which the candidate is running:

(1) establish a campaign committee and accept campaign contributions pursuant to the provisions of Rule 4.4;

(2) speak on behalf of his or her candidacy through any medium, including but not limited to advertisements, websites, or other campaign literature;

(3) publicly endorse, contribute to, and attend functions for other candidates running for the same judicial office for which he or she is running; and

(4) seek, accept, and use endorsements from any appropriate person or organization other than a political organization.

(D) A candidate for retention to judicial office whose candidacy has drawn active opposition may campaign in response and may:

(1) establish a campaign committee and accept campaign contributions pursuant to the provisions of Rule 4.4;

(2) speak on behalf of his or her candidacy through any medium, including but not limited to advertisements, websites, or other campaign literature; and

(3) seek, accept, and use endorsements from any appropriate person or organization other than a political organization.