Rule 3.9 Service as Arbitrator or Mediator

Judges are not allowed to work as arbitrators or mediators on the side. They also cannot take on other judge-like tasks outside of their official court job.

This rule exists to keep judges focused on their real role and to avoid confusion about when they are acting as a judge versus acting in some other capacity. It also helps prevent conflicts of interest. If a judge helped settle disputes privately as a mediator or arbitrator, people might question whether the judge could still be fair and neutral when handling official court cases.

For people involved in a case, this rule means you can count on a judge to act only in their official role as a judge. You won't run into a situation where the same judge is also privately helping resolve disputes outside the courtroom, which could create unfair advantages or raise doubts about the judge's impartiality.