Rule 8.2 Judicial and Legal Officials

Lawyers can't say false things about judges, court officials, or candidates for legal and judicial positions. This means a lawyer can't knowingly lie about a judge's honesty or qualifications, and they also can't make careless statements without checking if they're true first. Before speaking publicly about a judge or legal official, a lawyer needs to have good reason to believe what they're saying is accurate.

This rule still lets lawyers criticize judges and legal officials when they have real concerns. Lawyers can point out problems with how a judge handles cases or question a candidate's fitness for office. The rule only stops lawyers from spreading lies or reckless accusations, not honest criticism backed by facts.

If a lawyer decides to run for judicial office themselves, they also have to follow the Code of Judicial Conduct. This means they need to follow the specific rules about how judicial candidates can campaign and what they can say while running for the position.