Vermont Code of Judicial Conduct – 2026

1.1 Compliance with the Law 1.2 Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary 1.3 Avoiding Abuse of the Prestige of Judicial Office 2.1 Giving Precedence to the Duties of Judicial Office 2.2 Impartiality and Fairness 2.3 Bias, Prejudice, and Harassment 2.4 External Influences on Judicial Conduct 2.5 Competence, Diligence, and Cooperation 2.6 Ensuring the Right To Be Heard 2.7 Responsibility to Decide 2.8 Decorum, Demeanor, and Communication with Jurors 2.9 Ex Parte Communications 2.10 Judicial Statements on Pending and Impending Cases 2.11 Disqualification 2.12 Supervisory Duties 2.13 Administrative Appointments 2.14 Disability and Impairment 2.15 Responding to Judicial and Lawyer Misconduct 2.16 Cooperation with Disciplinary Authorities 3.1 Extrajudicial Activities in General 3.2 Appearances before Governmental Bodies and Consultation with Government Officials 3.3 Testifying as a Character Witness 3.4 Appointments to Governmental Positions 3.5 Use of Nonpublic Information 3.6 Affiliation with Discriminatory Organizations 3.7 Participation in Educational, Religious, Charitable, Fraternal, or Civic Organizations and Activities 3.8 Appointments to Fiduciary Positions 3.9 Service as Arbitrator or Mediator 3.10 Practice of Law 3.11 Financial, Business, or Remunerative Activities 3.12 Compensation for Extrajudicial Activities 3.13 Acceptance and Reporting of Gifts, Loans, Bequests, Benefits, or Other Things of Value 3.14 Reimbursement of Expenses and Waivers of Fees or Charges 3.15 Reporting Requirements 4.1 Political Conduct of Incumbent Judges 4.2 Political Conduct of Candidates for Appointment to or Confirmation or Retention in Public Office 4.3 Political Conduct of Candidates for Election as Judge of Probate or Assistant Judge 4.4 Applicability Application Canon 1 A Judge Shall Uphold and Promote the Independence, Integrity, and Impartiality of the Judiciary, and Shall Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety Canon 2 A Judge Shall Perform the Duties of Judicial Office Impartially, Competently, and Diligently Canon 3. A Judge Shall Conduct the Judge's Personal and Extrajudicial Activities to Minimize the Risk of Conflict with the Obligations of Judicial Office Canon 4. A Judge or Judicial Candidate Shall Refrain from Inappropriate Political Activity Preamble Scope Terminology