Rule 4.3 Use of Nonpublic Information

Judges often learn private information through their work on cases that isn't available to the general public. This rule says judges can't share or use that information for personal reasons or anything outside their official duties.

There are a few exceptions. A judge can share nonpublic information if the law requires it. A judge can also share it if doing so is necessary to keep people safe, including the public, the judge's own family, court staff, or other judges.

The point of this rule is to keep judges from taking advantage of what they learn on the bench. Someone might come across sensitive details in a case, like financial records or personal facts about the people involved. This rule makes sure that information stays protected and isn't misused for the judge's own benefit or shared just because someone is curious.