In re Judicial Ethics Op. 2018-8

Counsel

The question presented to the Advisory panel asks for an Advisory Opinion from a duly elected District Judge who does not have an opponent and is not involved in the 2018 election process. His question is whether or not his participation as a board member for Parents Helping Parents, Inc. as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, which includes his image, description of his judicial position and a quote from him in a promotional brochure available online, violates any judicial ethical rules., Parents Helping Parents, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose mission statement reads as follows: "Through a network of communities, Parents Helping Parents, Inc., provides education, resources, shared experiences and support to parents whose children, no matter the age, are struggling with substance use disorder." Contained in the brochure is a picture of the District Judge describing him as "Presiding Judge for the Cleveland County Adult Drug Court Program" and quotes him as follows "Substance use affects the individual, but it affects the entire family. Even when things seem like they can't get any worse, patience, compassion, accountability all play together. Just don't give up hope. Parents Helping Parents is a place where you can learn how.", Our Code of Judicial Conduct, Appendix 4, Section Rule 3.7 provides -"Participation in Educational, Religious, Charitable, Fraternal, or Civic Organizations and Activities", subpart (A) allows for "... a Judge to participate in activities sponsored by organizations or governmental entities concerned with the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice, and those sponsored by or on behalf of educational, religious, charitable, fraternal, or civic organizations not conducted for profit, ..." This rule describes permissible activities and there is no indication the Judge actively solicits membership or funds in his capacity as a Judge.