Navigation Judges may create nonprofits devoted to the improvement of the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice
Can a judge create a nonprofit organization devoted to the improvement of the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice and serve as a board member of that organization?
Yes, according to the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, as long as the organization is non-partisan. But there are, however, limitations. The ethics panel acted November 19 in Opinion Number 2024-16.
The inquiring judge proposed developing an independent, nonpartisan, grant-funded, nonprofit educational organization and serving on its board for the purpose of promoting “civics literacy and civil discourse.” The educational program would focus on the judicial branch, the judiciary, landmark judicial cases from a historical and legal context, and the process of judicial decision-making, including the role of a judge.
