Did Maryland's judicial ethics Canons or Rules bar a judge's spouse from legislative assistant work?

Plain-English summary

A judge asked whether his wife could work as an administrative assistant to a county delegate during the 1976 legislative session.

The Committee concluded that neither the Maryland Canons nor the Rules of Judicial Ethics related in any manner to the nature of employment accepted by the judge's spouse. It therefore found those provisions did not preclude the described work.

Currency note

This opinion discusses the Maryland judicial ethics provisions in force at the time it was written. Its analysis is historical; verify the current Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct and the linked opinion before relying on a cited provision.

Common questions

Q: What work did the spouse propose to take?

A: An administrative assistant position with a county delegate during the 1976 legislative session.

Q: Did the Committee identify a Maryland judicial ethics restriction on that employment?

A: No. It said neither the Canons nor the Rules related to the spouse's employment.

Q: Did the opinion assess other employment or election laws?

A: No. Its stated conclusion concerned only the Maryland judicial ethics Canons and Rules.

Background and rules framework

The opinion addresses the scope of the Maryland Canons and Rules of Judicial Ethics as applied to a judge's spouse's employment; it cites no numbered Canon or Rule.

Citations and references

See also

• MD Judicial Ethics Op. 2015-47
• MD Judicial Ethics Op. 1976-05

Source

• Landing page: Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee opinion index
• Original PDF: Opinion 1976-03

Original opinion text

Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.

Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee

Opinion Request Number: 1976-03

Date of Issue: February 20, 1976

O Published Opinion G Unpublished Opinion G Unpublished Letter of Advice

Canons and Rules of Judicial Ethics Not Applicable to Judge’s Spouse

You have inquired of this Committee whether the Maryland Canons or Rules of Judicial Ethics will preclude the employment of your wife as Administrative Assistant to Delegate X, of the Y County delegation, during the Legislative Session of 1976.
The Committee has considered your request and is of the opinion that neither the Canons nor the Rules relate in any manner to the nature of the employment accepted by the [spouse] of a judge.