Could a district judge serve as a judge of a local high school public speaking contest?
Apply this to your situation
This page answers the general question as of 1979. Ask about yours and see what the current rules of professional conduct in your state say for your facts, with citations.
Plain-English summary
The request concerned a district judge participating in a local high school public speaking contest and asked whether Canon 5 on avocational, civic, or charitable activity or Canon 4 on quasi-judicial activity governed.
The Commission classified the proposed participation under Canon 5 and said the judge could serve if the activity did not interfere with judicial duties.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1979, after the Alabama Supreme Court’s 1975 adoption of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics. Subsequent amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context and verify the current Canons and linked opinion before relying on its conclusions.
Common questions
Q: Which Canon did the Commission apply?
A: It applied Canon 5; the request had asked whether Canon 5 or Canon 4 governed.
Q: What condition accompanied the permission?
A: The contest participation could not interfere with performance of the judge’s judicial duties.
Background and rules framework
The letter compares Canon 5 with Canon 4 and classifies the school speaking-contest role as an activity governed by Canon 5.
Citations and references
Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics:
- Canon 5
- Canon 4
See also
- AL Judicial Ethics Op. 80-72: Judge’s Press Interview
- AL Judicial Ethics Op. 80-80: Regional Alcohol Council Chair
Source
- Landing page: Alabama JIC advisory opinions
- Original PDF: Advisory Opinion 79-55
- Canon history: Alabama JIC, Canons of Judicial Ethics
Original opinion text
Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.
79-55
Judicial Inquiry Commission
800 SOUTH MCDONOUGH STREET
SUITE 201
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36104
February 28, 1979
The Judicial Inquiry Commission has considered your request for an opinion in which you ask if it is permissible under the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics for a district court judge to participate as one of the judges of a public speaking contest in a local high school. You ask whether such activity would be governed by Canon 5 as an avocational, civic or charitable activity or by Canon 4 as a quasi-judicial activity. It is the opinion of this commission that the proposed activity is governed by Canon 5 and that a district court judge may participate in the contest as requested so long as such participation does not interfere with the performance of his judicial duties.
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