Rule 21-309 Service as arbitrator or mediator.

Judges cannot take on side jobs as arbitrators or mediators outside of their regular work on the bench. They also can't perform other judge-like duties outside their official role. The only exception is when a law specifically allows it.

This rule exists to keep judges focused on their court duties and to prevent conflicts of interest. If a judge could act as a private arbitrator or mediator, it might create confusion about when they're acting as a neutral judge versus a paid private service provider. It also helps avoid situations where a judge's outside work could influence their judgment or create the appearance of bias in their official cases.