Can a lawyer who also serves as a municipal judge put 'Judge' before his name on his professional business card?
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This page answers the general question as of 1971. Ezel answers yours: whether it's allowed on your facts, under the current Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, with citations.
Plain-English summary
The Committee was asked whether an attorney who is also a municipal judge may reflect that he is a judge on his professional card by showing "Judge [name]" with his address after it.
The Committee concluded that he may not. It explained that Canon 39 provides a professional card may with propriety contain only the member's name (and the names of associated lawyers), profession, address, telephone number, and special branches of the profession practiced. Using the word "Judge" before the attorney's name would be something in addition that Canon 39 does not permit, and would also be self-laudation prohibited by Canon 24. The Committee cited prior Opinions 11, 209, and 306, and ABA Informal Opinion 1006.
Currency note
This opinion was issued in 1971, under the former Texas Canons of Ethics, which the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct replaced effective January 1, 1990. It also predates Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 (1977), which loosened categorical advertising restrictions; prohibitions on misleading or self-laudatory communications were not eliminated by that decision. Communications about a lawyer's services, including on cards and letterhead, are now governed by Texas Rule 7.01 and ABA Model Rule 7.1. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here.
Common questions
Q: May a lawyer who is a municipal judge put "Judge" on his professional card?
A: No. The Committee concluded that a lawyer who is also a municipal court judge may not show "Judge" before his name on his professional card.
Q: Why is the title not allowed on the card?
A: Canon 39 limited the card to the member's name, profession, address, telephone number, and special branches practiced; adding "Judge" went beyond that and was also self-laudation prohibited by Canon 24.
Q: What authority did the Committee cite?
A: It cited Canons 24 and 39, prior Opinions 11, 209, and 306, and ABA Informal Opinion 1006.
Background and rules framework
The opinion interprets former Texas Canon 39 (the permitted contents of a professional card) and Canon 24 (barring self-laudatory communications). The modern analog is Texas Rule 7.01 and ABA Model Rule 7.1 (communications concerning a lawyer's services).
Citations and references
Rules of Professional Conduct:
- MR 7.1 (communications concerning a lawyer's services), as the modern analog
- Texas Canons 24 and 39 (former Texas Canons of Ethics)
Other opinions cited:
- Texas Ethics Opinions 11, 209, 306
- ABA Informal Opinion 1006
See also
- TX Ethics Op. 440: Specialization Claims on Firm Letterhead and Business Cards
- TX Ethics Op. 406: Letterhead Listing an Out-of-State Lawyer and CPA Credential
- TX Ethics Op. 356: District Attorney Using Official Stationery in a Private Practice
Source
- Landing page: https://www.legalethicstexas.com/resources/opinions/opinion-354/
- Original PDF: https://tcle-web.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/Opinion_354.pdf
Original opinion text
Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.
QUESTION PRESENTED
May an attorney who is also a Municipal Judge reflect that he is a Judge on his professional card by showing thereon Judge [ ], with his address thereafter?
23 Baylor L. Rev. 896 (1972)
Canons 24, 39
Canon 39 provides that the professional card of a member may with propriety contain only a statement of the member's name (and the names of lawyers associated with him), profession, address, telephone number and special branches of the profession practiced. The use of the word Judge before the name of the attorney on his professional card would be something in addition not permitted by Canon 39. Such would also be self-laudation prohibited by Canon 24. See Opinions 11, 209 and 306. See also ABA Informal Opinion 1006.
An attorney who is also a Municipal Court Judge may not on his professional card reflect his name as Judge [ ], Attorney at Law, with other information.
Tex. Comm. On Professional Ethics, Op. 354 (1971)
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