COMMITTEE ON CODES OF CONDUCT
ADVISORY OPINION NO. 15
Judge Serving as Director of Nonprofit Club.
A judge has asked whether it is proper to serve as a member of the
board of directors of a nonprofit social club and as a member of the board
of directors of another nonprofit club whose object is to promote an interest
in and to enlighten its membership on important governmental, economic
and social issues. The judge receives no compensation for providing services
to either club.
We assume that the latter club does not engage in partisan political
activity, and does not take positions on governmental, economic and social
issues which would embarrass the judge in the exercise of judicial duties.
We, therefore, do not believe that serving as a member of the board of
directors of either institution violates any existing canon of judicial
ethics.
Whether a judge should decide to serve as a director of a particular
club or similar organization depends upon many factors, which may vary
from one community to another, but to which a judge must be sensitive,
particularly since so many social and economic questions come before our
courts. Canons 2C and 5B and the Commentary thereto set forth some of the
factors that should be considered.
January 21, 1970
Revised January 16, 1998