Rule 2.3 Testifying as a Character Witness

A judge cannot volunteer to testify as a character witness for someone in a court case or similar hearing. This means a judge cannot step forward on their own to vouch for a person's good character, honesty, or reputation when that person is involved in a legal proceeding.

The only exception is if the judge gets subpoenaed, meaning a court officially orders them to testify. In that case, the judge can appear and give testimony because they are legally required to.

This rule exists because judges hold a position of public trust and authority. If a judge could freely offer character testimony, it might look like they are using their office to influence the outcome of a case, or give one side an unfair advantage just because a judge is speaking on their behalf. The rule keeps judges from lending their credibility to cases in ways that could seem unfair or improper.