Could an Illinois judge personally request money or administrative help for a judicial education organization?
Apply this to your situation
This page answers the general question as of 2005. 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 served on the executive committee of a national nonprofit organization of appellate judges that offered judicial education. The judge proposed asking other nonprofits for money or administrative support.
The Committee said former Rule 64C allowed membership and participation in fundraising for an organization devoted to improving the administration of justice, but prohibited personal solicitation of funds.
It treated requests for borrowed labor or office equipment as requests for financial contributions in kind. The judge therefore could not personally solicit either cash or administrative support.
Currency note
The Committee’s page states that this opinion interprets the 1993 Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct, which was superseded on January 1, 2023. It does not assess whether the 2023 Code changes the analysis. Verify the current Code before relying on it.
In practice
The opinion distinguished participation in fundraising, such as planning or attendance, from the judge’s direct request to a prospective donor.
Common questions
Q: Could the judge request office equipment instead of money?
A: No. The Committee treated borrowed equipment as financial support in kind.
Q: Could the judge participate in fundraising without personally soliciting?
A: Yes. The opinion said participation in fundraising was allowed under former Rule 64C.
Q: Did the judicial education purpose change the ban?
A: No. The group qualified as an administration-of-justice organization, but the personal-solicitation limit still applied.
Background and rules framework
The Committee applied former Illinois Supreme Court Rule 64C and discussed IJEC Opinions 94-9 and 95-22 on a judge’s fundraising participation and personal solicitation.
Citations and references
- Illinois Supreme Court Rule 64C.
- IJEC Opinions 94-9 and 95-22.
See also
Source
- Landing page: Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee Opinion 2005-04
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