Could a judge play the judicial role in a student trial video about drinking and driving?

Plain-English summary

Two letters to separately redacted addressees addressed playing the judicial role in criminal and civil trial videos for high school students. The project was described as teaching students about the legal process following a drinking and driving charge.

The Commission found that the described activities fell within former Canon 4B and presented no ethical problem.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1993, before West Virginia adopted its 2015 Code of Judicial Conduct, effective December 1, 2015. Subsequent rule changes or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context and verify the current Code before relying on the letter's conclusion.

Common questions

Q: Did the Commission approve the video participation?

A: Yes, for the educational activities described in the request.

Q: What did the videos cover?

A: The criminal and civil legal process associated with drinking and driving charges.

Background and rules framework

The Commission treated the educational project as activity permissible under former Canon 4B.

Citations and references

West Virginia Code of Judicial Conduct (former):

• Canon 4B, educational activities.

See also

• WV JIC Advisory Opinion 1993-07: Inn of Court participation

Source

• Landing page: West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission advisory opinions
• Original PDF: JIC Advisory Opinion 1993-08, redacted
• Code adoption date: West Virginia JIC 2015 Annual Report

Original opinion text

Best-effort transcription from a scanned PDF. Minor errors may remain; the linked PDF is authoritative.

JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION COMMISSION
Building 1, Room E400
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0834

March 9, 1993

Re: JIC Advisory Opinion 1993-08

Dear
I have received a request from
Esq.,
concerning your participating in the role of the judge in a criminal trial made for hiqh school video which deals with drinking and driving. _ has provided a description of his project, and it appears directed to students as a tool to educate them about the criminal and civil legal process which is utilized when an individual is charged with driving under the influence.
From the description of the project provided by _ . it would appear that your activities would fall within those actions permissible under Canon 4B of the Code of Judicial Conduct and, therefore, would not constitute any ethical problem.
If there is any further question concerning this matter, do not hesitate to contact me.
t r u ~yours,
-

.
., , ,1·II, Chairman
CRG/bl
cc: Larry G. Kopelman, Esq.

JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION COMMISSION
Buildl~g 1, Roon:i E400
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305-0834

March 9, 1993

Dear
I have received a request from
,,
concerning your participating in the role of the judge in a civil trial made for high school video which deals with drinking and driving. _ has provided a description of his project; and it appears directed to students as a tool to educate them about the criminal and civil legal process which is utilized when an individual is charged with driving under the influence. ·
For your information. from the description of the project. provided by _ . it would appear that your activities would fall within those actions permissible under Canon 4B of the Code of Judicia1·conduct and, therefore, would not constitute any ethical problem.
If there is any further question copcerning this matter,

J:~:f~~iurs, do not hesitate to contact me.
ly

F ~ L.
II, Chairman

CRG/bl
cc: L~rry G. Kopelman, Esq.