Rule 6.1 Advisory Opinions on Judicial Conduct

This rule sets up a system where judges can get help understanding the rules that govern their conduct. A group called the Judicial Conduct Committee (or a similar group that might replace it) can give judges advice about what the ethics rules mean and how to follow them. This advice can be informal, like a quick answer to a question, or formal, like a written opinion that lays out more detail.

The committee has to keep track of the advice it gives. It keeps a log of informal opinions and saves copies of formal ones. If the Oregon Supreme Court or the Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability wants to see these records, the committee has to share them.

Finally, the committee can share its opinions or logs more broadly if doing so helps judges understand the ethics rules better. This means judges across the state can benefit from guidance that was originally given to just one person, since the committee can spread useful advice to help everyone follow the rules correctly.