Opinion 07-116

September 26, 2007

         This responds to your inquiry (07-116) asking whether you may permit a full-time court attorney who is your personal appointee to run for legislative office while retaining his/her current employment.

         Subject to the applicable Rules Governing Judicial Conduct, you may permit your personal appointee to run for legislative office while employed in his current position. However, he/she should contact the Unified Court System’s Office of Court Administration, the agency with the ultimate authority to interpret Part 50 of the Chief Judge’s Rules, for guidance on how Part 50 applies to his/her particular circumstances. (Contact: ETHICS HELPLINE: 1-888-28-ETHIC.)

         A copy of Opinion 07-11, addressing many issues involving political activity by personal appointees, is attached for your convenience.