Published on Nebraska Judicial Branch (http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov)

Home > Supreme Court Rules > CHAPTER 5: JUDGES > Article 3: Nebraska Revised Code of Judicial Conduct. (Effective January 1, 2011.) > § 5-303.0. Canon 3. A judge shall conduct the judge’s personal and extrajudicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with the obligations of judicial office. > § 5-303.3. Testifying as a character witness.

§ 5-303.3. Testifying as a character witness.

   A judge shall not testify as a character witness in a judicial, administrative, or other adjudicatory proceeding or otherwise vouch for the character of a person in a legal proceeding, except when duly summoned.

COMMENT

 

   [1] A judge who, without being subpoenaed, testifies as a character witness abuses the prestige of judicial office to advance the interests of another. See Rule 1.3. Except in unusual circumstances where the demands of justice require, a judge should discourage a party from requiring the judge to testify as a character witness.