Formal Opinion 1996-1: Statements Concerning Judges

February 26, 1996

TOPIC: Statements Concerning Judges.

OPINION:

DIGEST: A lawyer may make public statements critical of the conduct of a particular sitting judge, provided the criticisms are well-founded, and notwithstanding the fact that the Commission on Judicial Conduct declined to pursue the lawyer’s complaint of alleged judicial misconduct against the judge. Any such statements should be intended to improve the legal system, and made in a dignified, temperate manner.

CODE: DR 8-102(B), ECs 8-1, 8-6, 9-6.

FORMAL OPINION 1996-1 ( PDF format )