Standard 2(N) Avoiding governmental appointments except as pertain to improvement of the law,

the legal system, or the administration of justice

1. A judge may not appear at a public hearing before, or otherwise consult with, an executive or legislative body or official except on matters concerning the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice, or except when acting pro se in a matter involving the judge or the judge’s interests. When appearing pro se a judge must explain that he or she is acting solely in a personal capacity. This section does not apply to all judges as set forth in Exception to Applicability 3 and 4.

2. A judge may represent a country, state, or locality on ceremonial occasions or in connection with historical, educational, or cultural activities.

3. A judge may serve on a governmental committee or commission for which the judicial membership is provided by law or that involves the improvement of the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice, provided the judge’s role is limited to discussion of and voting on matters that are not issues in specific cases pending before or likely to come before the judge. Such service may include participating on committees or task forces created by the executive and legislative branches of state government, or by local governments, to review policies affecting entities that interact with the judicial system. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a judge shall not accept appointment to a governmental committee or commission or other governmental position that is concerned with issues of fact or policy on matters other than the improvement of the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice. This section does not apply to all judges as set forth in Exceptions to Applicability 3 and 4.

4. A judge may serve on a governmental committee or commission for which the judicial membership is provided by law or that involves the improvement of the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice, provided the judge’s role is limited to discussion of and voting on matters that are not issues in specific cases pending before or likely to come before the judge. Such service may include participating on committees or task forces created by the executive and legislative branches of state government, or by local governments, to review policies affecting entities that interact with the judicial system. This section does not apply to all judges as set forth in Exceptions to Applicability 3 and 4.

5. Nothing contained in these Canons is deemed to prohibit a judge from serving in a nonvoting capacity on the board or a committee, or as a trained volunteer, of The Virginia Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program, or any similar governmental program for judges or lawyers.