Rule 51:3.2 Appearances Before Governmental Bodies and Consultation with Government Officials

[1] Judges possess special expertise in matters of law, the legal system, the provision of legal services, and the administration of justice and may properly share that expertise with governmental bodies and executive or legislative branch officials.

[2] In appearing before governmental bodies or consulting with government officials, judges must be mindful that they remain subject to other provisions of the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct, such as rule 51:1.3, prohibiting judges from using the prestige of office to advance their own or others’ interests, rule 51:2.10, governing public comment on pending and impending matters, and rule 51:3.1(C), prohibiting judges from engaging in extrajudicial activities that would appear to a reasonable person to undermine the judge’s independence, integrity, or impartiality.

[3] In general, it would be an unnecessary and unfair burden to prohibit judges from appearing before governmental bodies or consulting with government officials on matters that are likely to affect them as private citizens, such as zoning proposals affecting their real property. In engaging in such activities, however, judges must not refer to their judicial positions and must otherwise exercise caution to avoid using the prestige of judicial office.