Ezel / Ethics Opinions / JUDICIAL-SD

Did South Dakota's judicial campaign contribution limit apply to organizations as well as individuals?

Short answer Yes. The Committee said the $1,000 election-year cap in Canon 5(C)(2) applied to contributions from both individuals and organizations.
Bar
JUDICIAL-SD
Issued
October 1, 2014
Source
View Original PDF

Apply this to your situation

This page answers the general question as of 2014. 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 Not binding precedent.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 as a PDF) is the authoritative source for any reliance.
View original ethics opinion (PDF)

Plain-English summary

The Committee issued this opinion after questions about contribution limits for organizations in judicial elections. It read Canon 5(C)(2)'s $1,000 election-year limit as applying to both individuals and organizations.

The opinion did not describe a separate organizational cap or an exception for organizations. Its conclusion was limited to the scope of the Canon's contribution limit as it stood in 2014.

Currency note

This 2014 opinion applied the then-current South Dakota Code of Judicial Conduct. Verify later amendments before using its dollar limit.

In practice

The opinion treated an organization and an individual alike for the stated $1,000 election-year contribution limit.

Common questions

Q: Could an organization contribute more than the per-individual limit?

A: No. The Committee said the cap applied to organizations as well as individuals.

Q: Did the opinion create a different limit for organizations?

A: No. It applied the same Canon 5(C)(2) cap to both categories.

Background and rules framework

The Committee interpreted South Dakota Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 5(C)(2)'s campaign contribution provision. It issued the opinion to clarify the Canon's application to organizational contributions.

Citations and references

  • South Dakota Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 5(C)(2).

See also

Source

What do the rules say today, for your facts?

This opinion is from 2014. 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