NY Daily Record Since 1908
NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics —
Appearance of Impropriety
Speaking Engagements
Opinion 09-181
Background: A full-time judge that presides in a matrimonial part asked whether he may (1) speak about family law to employees of an insurance company; (2) speak about domestic violence from a judge’s perspective given the current economy during a law firm’s forum for women; (3) speak about a workshop the judge recently conducted to the legal advisory committee of a non profit organization that represents victims of domestic violence; and (4) lecture about divorce law during a CLE program offered by non profit organizations that place domestic violence victims with pro bono attorneys.
Opinion: First, the committee stated that a judge may speak about family law to employees of an insurance company at an Employee Assistance Program event. The judge may not, however, speak about domestic violence from the judge’s personal perspective given the current economy during a private law firm’s forum for women. Also, a judge may not speak during programs sponsored by not-for-profit organizations that represent victims of domestic violence.
