Rule 5-301.1 Compliance with the law.

Judges have to follow the law, plain and simple. This includes not just general laws that apply to everyone, but also the specific rules laid out in the Code of Judicial Conduct that govern how judges do their jobs.

This rule sets the foundation for everything else in the judicial conduct code. It means a judge can't pick and choose which laws or ethical rules apply to them. If a judge breaks this rule, it can lead to discipline, since following the law is the most basic requirement of holding the position.