Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee Opinions
Opinions 1999 - Present
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21-1 A judge may serve as a member of the judiciary board of a church.
05/13/2021
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20-3 Retired judge serving on the recall list may also serve as an administrative hearing officer conducting hearings involving Title IX complaints for a private university.
06/09/2021
20-2 A judge may not write and publish an article asserting a particular criminal law statute has been incorrectly interpreted by the Supreme Court of Virginia and providing an alternative interpretation, even with appropriate disclaimers.
03/12/2021
20-1 A judge may direct the court clerk to include with unlawful detainer summonses additional materials which describe legal and financial assistance available to tenants, under specific proscribed parameters and procedures.
03/12/2021
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19-4 A judge may hear cases involving an attorney who co-owns a limited liability company that rents a parking space to the judge, with disclosure of the relevant facts to, and waiver of, the parties and the attorneys involved.
05/01/202019-3 A judge may participate in a continuing legal education seminar presented by a local bar association, where attendees are charged a fee for admission and which may result in a profit for the bar association, subject to restrictions imposed by the Canons of Judicial Conduct.
10/01/201919-2 A judge may wear a judicial robe while attending the retirement ceremony for another judge to be held in a courtroom.
08/27/201919-1 A judge should not wear his or her judicial robe while attending the funeral service for another judge.
04/12/2019
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17-1 A judge may serve and participate in an honorary capacity during a festival and related events sponsored by a community-based non-profit organization, subject to restrictions imposed by the Canons of Judicial Conduct.
07/27/2017
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16-2 A substitute judge who represents a local police union and its police officer members under an ongoing contract shall not preside in cases involving local police.
09/29/1616-1 Recusal When a Lawyer Who Regularly Appears Before a Judge is a Party or Witness in a Proceeding Before that Judge.
04/28/2016
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08-1 Propriety of Judge Serving as Pastor or Minister
[The Committee withdrew this opinion on February 17, 2010.]
03/09/2010
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06-1 Circumstances under which judges may send letters of recommendation.
10/12/2006
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03-4 A Judge May Serve As An Officer In The Judge Advocate General's Corps Of The Reserve Components Of The Armed Forces Of The United States (Amended May 21, 2004)
11/21/2003
03-3 Propriety of a Judge's Serving on Board of Non-Profit Corporation that Assists and Educates Members of the Legal Profession who Suffer from Chemical Dependency (Amended November 21, 2003)
07/18/2003
03-2 Propriety of a Judge Recommending a Candidate for a Judgeship to a Legislative Committee (Amended July 18, 2003)
05/16/2003
03-1 Recusal Based Upon Attorneys' Subleasing of Office Building Owned by Judge and a Subtenant Attorney's Family Relationship with Lessee
05/16/2003
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01-8 Recusal Based Upon Acquaintance With Party, Attorney or Witness
07/16/2001
01-7 Judge With Ownership Interest in a Building, a Part of Which is Subleased by Judge's Former Partner to an Attorney who Appears in Judge's Court
07/16/2001
01-6 Propriety of a Judge's Signing Application for Appointment as a Notary
04/27/2001
01-5 Compensation for Judges Pro Tempore Appointed Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 17.1-110
04/27/2001
01-4 Propriety of a Judge Lecturing or Teaching in Police Training Programs
03/28/2001
01-3 Judge's Leaving Accumulated Funds In Former Law Firm's Profit Sharing Plan
03/28/2001
01-2 May a Judge Testify as to Facts Witnessed While He Was a Practicing Attorney but Before He Became a Judge?
03/12/200101-1 May a Judge Report a Physician for Over-Prescribing Drugs Based on Information Learned in the Course of a Child Custody Proceeding in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court? 02/07/2001
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00-9 Propriety of a Judge's Serving as Officer or Director of Property Owners Association
11/08/2000
00-8 Propriety of a Judge's Writing or Telephoning the Virginia State Bar Supporting a Petition for Reinstatement of an Attorney Whose License had been Surrendered or in Support of an Attorney Facing Disciplinary Action
09/11/2000
00-7 Judge's Responding to Legislator's Inquiry Regarding a Case
09/11/2000
00-6 Propriety of a Judge Serving as a Member of the Virginia State Crime Commission
07/17/2000
00-5 Whether A Judge Who Holds Stock in a Publicly Held Corporation Must Recuse Himself/Herself When That Corporation is a Party
07/17/2000
00-4 Circuit Court Judge Having Ex Parte Communications with Probation Officers
05/08/2000
00-3 Propriety of a Judge's Serving on Board of a Juvenile Group Home Which Accepts Court Referrals
03/27/2000
00-2 Judges Serving on Community Criminal Justice Boards
02/01/2000
00-1 Propriety of a Judge's Voting in a Primary Election or "Firehouse Primary"
02/01/2000
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99-8 Substitute Judge's Listing of Judicial Status in Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
11/18/1999
99-7 Judge's Participating in Media Interviews Concerning Legal Issues
1/17/1999
99-6 Propriety of a Judge's Voting in a Primary Election or "Firehouse Primary"
11/15/1999
99-5 Judge's Receiving Ex Parte Letters from Prisoners
10/06/1999
99-4 Judge's Recusal When the Judge has Filed a Complaint Against One of the Lawyers with the Virginia State Bar
09/21/1999
99-3 Retired Judge's Soliciting Contributions for National Judicial College
09/21/1999
99-2 Substitute Judges Performing Marriage Ceremonies
06/06/1999
99-1 Substitute Judges Listing Position in Biographical Information
06/06/1999