Ezel / Ethics Opinions / JUDICIAL-IL

Could an Illinois judge bag groceries in a supermarket promotion donating part of sales to charity?

Short answer No. The Committee treated the proposed celebrity-bagger role as charitable fundraising prohibited by former Rule 65B(2), even if promotions omitted individual judges’ names.
Bar
JUDICIAL-IL
Issued
January 12, 1999

Apply this to your situation

This page answers the general question as of 1999. 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 Not binding precedent.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

United Way asked judges to bag groceries at a supermarket event where ten percent of purchases would be donated to the charity. Promotions would refer to judges as celebrity baggers without naming individuals.

The Committee concluded that the role directly sought to increase charitable donations and therefore was solicitation under former Rule 65B(2). The absence of individual names in advertisements did not change the fundraising purpose.

It distinguished artistic participation that only incidentally benefited a nonprofit and participation in some law-related fundraising management that did not involve public solicitation.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1999 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 The Committee’s page says that Code was superseded on January 1, 2023, and does not assess the effect of the 2023 Code.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 judges participate without being named in the ad?

A: No. The Committee focused on the role’s intended fundraising effect.

Q: Did the judges have to ask shoppers directly for donations?

A: No. The opinion said solicitation included fundraising efforts without direct verbal requests.

Background and rules framework

The Committee applied former Illinois Supreme Court Rule 65B(2), discussing Rule 64C for law-related organizations and Rule 65A for incidental artistic participation.

Citations and references

  • Illinois Supreme Court Rules 64C, 65A, and 65B(2).
  • IJEC Opinions 95-22 and 95-23.

See also

Source

What do the rules say today, for your facts?

This opinion is from 1999. Ezel checks the current rules of professional conduct in your state against your situation and cites the rules it relies on.

Opens in Ezel Pro.

  • Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
  • Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
  • Chat, drafting and research in one workspace