Ezel / Ethics Opinions / JUDICIAL-IL

Could an Illinois judge be honored at a civic organization’s fundraising dinner if invitations omitted the judge’s name?

Short answer No. The Committee read former Rule 65B(2) to prohibit a judge from being a guest of honor at a civic fundraiser even without the judge’s name in promotions.
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JUDICIAL-IL
Issued
May 1, 2001

Apply this to your situation

This page answers the general question as of 2001. Ask about yours and see what the current rules of professional conduct in your state say for your facts, with citations.

Disclaimer: Advisory only. Not binding precedent.
About this page: The plain-English summary, reader guidance, and Q&A below were written by Ezel based on the official ethics opinion. The original opinion (linked on this page) is the authoritative source for any reliance.

Plain-English summary

A civic group planned to honor a judge for work with local youths at a fundraising dinner. The judge’s name would not appear on invitations or other promotional materials.

The Committee concluded that former Rule 65B(2) barred guest-of-honor status at an organization’s fundraising event. Omitting the judge’s name from promotional material did not alter the role at the dinner.

The opinion said the restriction applied even where the judge held no officer, director, trustee, or advisory position with the organization. It distinguished mere attendance, which the former rule allowed.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 2001 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 The Committee’s page says that Code was superseded on January 1, 2023, and does not assess the effect of the 2023 Code.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: Did leaving the judge’s name off invitations allow the honor?

A: No. The Committee focused on guest-of-honor status at the fundraiser.

Q: Did the prohibition require a board relationship with the group?

A: No. The opinion applied it without such a relationship.

Q: Could the judge merely attend?

A: The former rule, as quoted by the opinion, permitted attendance.

Background and rules framework

The Committee applied former Illinois Supreme Court Rule 65B(2), citing IJEC Opinions 99-5 and 96-3 on judicial guests of honor and speakers at fundraising events.

Citations and references

  • Illinois Supreme Court Rule 65B(2).
  • IJEC Opinions 99-5 and 96-3.

See also

Source

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