Standard 2(L) Extrajudicial activities

1. Complete separation of a judge from extrajudicial activities is neither possible nor wise; a judge should not become isolated from the community.

2. A judge may engage in extrajudicial activities designed to improve the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice, and must conduct any such extrajudicial activities in a manner that minimizes the risk of conflict with judicial obligations. A judge may speak, write, lecture, participate in moot courts, or teach about the law, the legal system, the administration of justice, and non-legal subjects, subject to the requirements of these Canons.

3. A judge is required to conduct all extrajudicial activities so that they do not: (a) cast reasonable doubt on the judge’s capacity to act impartially; however, reasonable doubt as to a judge’s impartiality cannot be shown merely because the judge in a respectful manner writes, lectures, speaks, or teaches on legal subjects consistent with Standard 1M;

(b) demean the judicial office; or (c) interfere with the proper performance of judicial duties.

4. Becoming a judge does not require a judge to abdicate his or her parental authority and responsibility. A judge has a right to participate in the education of his or her minor children, and, where appropriate or upon invitation, his or her adult children.

5. In conducting personal business, a judge may wish to be contacted at his or her place of employment. For security reasons, a judge may not want to provide the judge’s personal addresses or telephone numbers. A judge is allowed to provide the judge’s business contact information to any person with whom the judge transacts personal business, so long as the judge does not do so in an attempt to exploit the judge’s official position or to obtain treatment different from the treatment that a person who is not a judge would receive.

6. A judge who provides information about the judge’s official position or requests assistance due to reasonable concerns about the safety of the judge or a member of the judge’s family will not be deemed to be in violation of the Canons.

7. The following illustrations are examples of activities that are permitted under this standard:

(a) A judge may attend parent-teacher conferences and meetings with officials of schools or educational institutions regarding the educational progress, social progress, or discipline of the judge’s child or any child under the judge’s custody or care. A judge in this capacity acts not as a judge, but as a parent. In doing so, the judge must not employ coercion or assert the prestige of judicial office. The mere fact that a judge attends such a conference or meeting will not be deemed coercive without other accompanying coercive conduct or statements.

(b) Due to safety concerns, a judge may ask a security guard or law enforcement officer at an event to escort the judge to the judge’s parked vehicle when such services are not normally provided to the general public.