Opinion 10-161

December 22, 2010

Dear Judge:

         This responds to your inquiry (10-161) asking whether you may appear in a training video that will be used by a social services agency to provide information to families about various programs provided by that agency and certain matters which are heard in your court. The video would be viewed by families waiting to meet with an agency worker and also to educate police and others about certain types of petitions filed in your court.

         It is ethically permissible for you to appear in this video as long as you simply describe, objectively and without comment, the manner in which a case proceeds through the court system. Further, you must avoid advocating a certain strategy or giving examples of what information should be contained in the pleadings.

         Enclosed, for your convenience, are Opinions 09-10; 98-141 and 97-89 which address this issue.

Very truly yours,

George D. Marlow

Justice of the Supreme Court (Ret.)

Committee Chair

Encls.