Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics — Fundraising — Advertising: Opinion 12-61

NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics

Fundraising — Advertising

Corrective Actions

Opinion 12-61

Background: The inquiring judge asked what actions he should take regarding an advertisement for a fundraising event which had already been held to benefit a local bar foundation. The advertisement was placed in a local newspaper without the knowledge or consent of the judge and the advertisement used the judge’s name and title to announce the event.

Opinion: The committee concluded that the judge should send a letter to the bar foundation objecting to the use of his name and demand a retraction. The judge should also instruct the bar not to use his name in the future.