Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Opinion 15-16

NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics

Impartiality

Village Justice – Village Police Officers

Opinion 15-16

Background: A village justice asked if he may preside in cases in which village police officers appear as they are both employees of the village. The justice has no social relationship with the police officers.

Opinion: The committee concluded that a village justice may preside when village police officers appear in the village court.