JUDICIAL ETHICS OPINION 2010-4

JUDICIAL ETHICS ADVISORY PANEL

¶1 Question(s): May the campaign committee of a candidate for a judicial office solicit and accept a contribution from a political action committee (PAC) that has a policy of only making contributions to the members of a single political party?

¶2 Answer: No.

¶3 Discussion: 20 O.S. Sec 1404 et cetera – provides among other things that a judge or judicial candidate may not engage in partisan political activities and may not divulge the party, if any, with which the judge, or candidate is registered. Canon 5 prohibits a judge or judicial candidate from engaging in political activities on behalf of other candidates.

¶4 Canon 2 (A) states "A judge should respect and comply with the law at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary."

¶5 Clearly a judicial candidate may dictate what his or her campaign committee may or may not do. No one is naïve enough to believe that a partisan political pact is going to donate to or support a candidate other than a member of that political party. We reiterate that the perception of the actions of a judge or judicial candidate is just as important as the actual fact in complying with the provisions of a code designed to promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.

Dated: June 22, 2010

/s/Robert L. Bailey, Chairman

/s/Milton C. Craig, Secretary

/s/Robert E. Lavender