Rule 21-405 Activities of judges who become candidates for nonjudicial office.

If a judge wants to be appointed to a nonjudicial government job, there are limits on what they can do to try to get it. The judge cannot raise or accept money for the effort, whether personally or through a committee. They also cannot campaign or do political work to get the job, except for a few specific things: they can talk directly with the person or group who will decide on the appointment, ask organizations or individuals for support if the appointing authority allows it, and share information about their own qualifications.

While a judge is seeking this kind of appointment, they cannot handle any court case that involves or affects the people or organizations connected to that appointment. This includes the appointing authority itself, or any group or person the judge knows is giving input on whether they get the job. This rule exists to prevent judges from favoring people in court who might help them get appointed to a new position.

Judges cannot accept an appointment to nonjudicial office while they are still sitting judges, and they cannot run for one either. If a judge wants to run for an elected nonjudicial office, they must resign from their judgeship right away, at the same time they file their candidacy papers. In short, a judge cannot hold onto their current job while pursuing a different government position, whether through election or appointment.