Opinion 02-27

March 7, 2002

NOTE: OVERRULED BY OPINION 06-162

Digest:         A judge may use unexpended campaign funds to purchase water coolers, microwave ovens, office refrigerators, rugs, desk lamps, copiers, paper shredder, office supplies and a TV/VCR so long as the items are used in court business and become the property of the Unified Court System.

Rules:          Opinion 91-87 (Vol. VIII ); 92-104 (Vol. X); 93-04 (Vol. X); 93-56 (Vol. XI); 95-36 (Vol. XII).

Opinion:

         A recently elected judge has unexpected campaign funds in the campaign treasury. The judge would like to use those funds to purchase the following items for use by the judge’s courtroom staff in their office area and in the judge’s chambers:

                   - two water coolers

                   - two small microwave ovens

- two office size refrigerators

- three rugs to replace carpeting

- three desk lamps

- two copiers

- one paper shredder

- one 13 inch television with VCR

- miscellaneous office supplies

         This Committee has previously opined that a judge may use unexpended campaign funds to buy word processing equipment, audio-visual equipment, computers, office supplies, robes, answering machines, carpeting, and office furniture for use in the courthouse. Those items become the property of the Unified Court System. Opinions 91-87 (Vol. VIII); 92-104 (Vol. X); 93-04 (Vol. X); 93-56 (Vol. XI); 95-36 (Vol. XII).

         None of the items to be purchased by the inquiring judge, as listed above, are inappropriate expenditures for the unexpended campaign funds. Therefore, the judge may use unexpended campaign funds to purchase the items listed above, so long as the items are used for court business and become the property of the Unified Court System.