Could an Illinois judge coach a school speech team and receive an honorarium?
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This page answers the general question as of 1995. Ask about yours and see what the current rules of professional conduct in your state say for your facts, with citations.
Plain-English summary
A judge coached a school speech and debate team after regular hours and judged contests without pay. The school proposed an honorarium for coaching.
The Committee classified coaching as nonlegal avocational teaching under former Rule 65A. It allowed the work if it did not diminish judicial dignity or interfere with duties.
A reasonable honorarium could be paid if comparable to what other coaches received and within the former $3,000 six-month ceiling. The opinion distinguished the 5:30 p.m. rule for law-related teaching but cautioned that nonlegal instruction before that time could interfere with judicial duties.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1997 under the 1993 Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct. The Committee’s page says that Code was superseded on January 1, 2023, and does not assess the effect of the 2023 Code. Treat this page as historical context and verify the current Code before relying on its analysis.
Common questions
Q: Could the judge coach the team?
A: Yes, as permitted nonlegal activity on the stated schedule.
Q: Could the judge receive an honorarium?
A: Yes, if reasonable, comparable to other coaches, and within the former six-month $3,000 cap.
Q: Could the judge judge speech contests?
A: Yes. The opinion included unpaid contest judging among the described permissible activities.
Background and rules framework
The Committee distinguished former Illinois Supreme Court Rule 64A on law-related teaching from Rule 65A on nonlegal subjects and applied Rule 66 to honoraria.
Citations and references
- Illinois Supreme Court Rules 64A, 65A, and 66.
See also
Source
- Landing page: Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee Opinion 1995-18
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