Judicial Ethics Committee Opinions - 2001

• 01-1

  May a judge accept an invitation to provide a welcoming statement at an event being sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for law enforcement officers and representatives of victim witness organizations where the attendees will receive death notification training and leadership training?

• 01-2

  May a member of the judiciary who previously served as supervising deputy county attorney over the child support enforcement division of a county attorney's office preside in child support cases which were filed or being handled by the county attorney's office during the period of time the judge served as chief deputy county attorney? Specifically, should the judge consider recusal in either of the following situations:

  • If a bench warrant was issued while the judge was serving in the county attorney's office, does a conflict exist requiring recusal, when the child support obligor is picked up on that bench warrant,
  • In cases which were filed or opened by the county attorney's office while the judge served as the supervising attorney and in which a request is now being made for the issuance of a bench warrant or other action required in the case based on facts or events that occurred after the judge left the county attorney’s office?