Rule 4.2 Political and Campaign Activities of Judicial Candidates in Public Retention Elections

(A) A judge who is a candidate* for retention in office shall:

(1) act at all times in a manner consistent with the independence,* integrity,* and impartiality* of the judiciary;

(2) comply with all applicable retention election, retention election campaign, and retention election campaign fund-raising laws and regulations of this jurisdiction;

(3) maintain the dignity appropriate to judicial office, and shall encourage members of his or her family to adhere to the same standards of political conduct that apply to the judge;

(4) prohibit public officials or employees subject to the judge’s direction or control from doing for the judge what he or she is prohibited from doing under this Canon; and except to the extent authorized under subsection (B), the judge shall not allow any other person to do for the judge what he or she is prohibited from doing under this Canon;

(5) not make pledges or promises of conduct in office other than the faithful and impartial* performance of the duties of the office; announce how the judge would rule on any case or issue that might come before the judge; or misrepresent his or her identity, qualifications, present position, or other fact.

(B) A judge who is a candidate* for retention in office shall abstain from any campaign activity in connection with the judge’s own candidacy unless there is active opposition to his or her retention in office. If there is active opposition to the retention of a candidate* judge:

(1) the judge may speak at public meetings;

(2) the judge may use advertising media, provided that the advertising media is within the bounds of proper judicial decorum;

(3) a nonpartisan citizens’ committee or committees advocating the judge’s retention in office may be organized by others, either on their own initiative or at the request of the judge;

(4) any committee organized pursuant to subsection (B)(3) may raise funds for the judge’s retention election campaign, but the judge shall not solicit funds personally or accept any funds except those paid to the judge by a committee for reimbursement of the judge’s retention election campaign expenses; and,

(5) the judge shall not be advised of the source of funds raised by the committees.

(6) the judge shall not knowingly,* or with reckless disregard for the truth, make any false or misleading statement;

(7) the judge shall not make any statement that would reasonably be expected to affect the outcome or impair the fairness of a matter pending* or impending* in any court; or

(8) the judge shall not in connection with cases, controversies, or issues that are likely to come before the court, make pledges, promises, or commitments that are inconsistent with the impartial* performance of the adjudicative duties of judicial office.