Digest:  A judge may write a column about statutes and regulations, and recent court decisions that affect the business community, for a newsletter that will be published by the Chamber of Commerce, provided the judge does not comment on pending or impending cases.
 

Rule:  22 NYCRR 100.3(B)(8); 100.4(B);
           Opinion 97-132 (Vol. XVI).
 
 

Opinion:

            A judge asks whether the judge may write a column about statutes and regulations, and recent court decisions that affect the business community, for a newsletter that will be published by the local Chamber of Commerce. The judge will receive no compensation for writing the column and will not comment on pending cases.

            Section 100.4(B) of the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct authorizes judges to "speak, write, lecture and participate in extra-judicial activities . . . ." Thus, the writing of such a column, as described in the judge's inquiry, is permissible, so long as the judge does not comment on pending or impending proceedings in any American court, including cases on appeal. 22 NYCRR 100.3(B)(8). See Opinion 97-132 (Vol. XVI).