Rule 51:1.1 Compliance with the Law

Judges have to follow the law, plain and simple. This includes every law that applies to them, not just the rules written specifically for judges. It also means judges must follow the Code of Judicial Conduct itself, the same set of rules this one belongs to.

This rule sets the baseline for everything else. A judge cannot pick and choose which laws apply or decide that some rules do not matter. Following the law is the starting point for earning trust and acting fairly on the bench.