Rule 5-301.0 Canon 1. A judge shall uphold and promote the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.

Judges are expected to act in ways that show they are fair, honest, and free from outside influence. This means a judge must make decisions based only on the law and the facts of a case, not on personal relationships, favors, or pressure from others.

Judges also need to avoid situations that might make people question their honesty or fairness, even if nothing wrong actually happened. This means a judge should stay away from behavior, relationships, or situations that could make someone reasonably think the judge is biased or acting improperly.

For people involved in a case, this rule means you can expect the judge handling your matter to act with integrity both in and out of the courtroom. If a judge's conduct raises doubts about their fairness, this rule serves as the foundation for holding them accountable.