Opinion 05-42

April 29, 2005

         This is in response to your inquiry (05-42) in which you seek the advice of the Advisory Committee as to the permissible degree of your participation in an American Red Cross fund-raising event in which "committee members of the [ ] Regional Drug Court Team" are to be honored. You are a member of that committee.

         Section 100.4(C)(3)(b)(ii) of the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct permits a judge to accept an unadvertised award ancillary to an organization's fund-raising event. In applying that provision to the situation presented in your letter, we have concluded that you may appear with the committee but your remarks must be limited to a brief expression of thanks. The person making the presentation should explain why you were not named in the promotional material for the event, but that you are part of the team that is receiving the award.