BLOG: World Series of Poker off limits for NY judges

Apparently, a full-time judge somewhere in New York state wanted to play in the World Series of Poker in Nevada, but a group of legal experts don’t think it’s such a good idea.

Bennett Loudon

According to an opinion posted online in January from the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, a judge asked whether it was OK to play in the tournament with an entry fee of several thousand dollars and potentially millions of dollars in prizes.

The bottom line, according to the three-page opinion: “The inquiring judge may not participate in the World Series of Poker.”

The Committee, which I wrote about in detail last month, includes 27 judges from all types of courts across the state, who meet seven times a year in Manhattan to discuss questions submitted by other judges and form opinions that will hopefully keep them out of hot water if they follow the advice.

The Committee doesn’t reveal any details of the queries submitted, so we don’t know who asked if they can play in the big-time poker tournament, or the court over which they preside.

The New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics says it’s not OK for a judge to play in the World Series of Poker.

It seems the Committee didn’t take kindly to the possibility of the judge signing a required release form that gives the operator of the tournament “worldwide use and exploitation of player’s name, voice, likeness, image, actions, statements, caricatures, nicknames, social media handles, signature, mannerisms, traits, speech, phrases and other unique personal characteristics.”

“A judge must always avoid even the appearance of impropriety and must always act to promote public confidence,” according to the opinion reached by the committee in June 2015.

The release that must be signed by all players would prevent the judge from making a claim against the tournament organizers if they don’t like the way the organizers use of their name, image or recordings.

“Such a provision only underscores the risk, beyond the judge’s control, that his/her judicial status could be misused by tournament organizers and/or marketers,” the opinion says.

The opinion goes on to say the tourney organizers might “sensationalize the judge’s participation in a way that would demean the dignity of judicial office.”