Opinion 11-04

                                                 May 2, 2011

Dear Justice:

         This responds to your inquiry (11-04) asking whether you may advise your undergraduate and law school classmates, on judicial stationery, that a novel you have written was recently published. In addition, you ask whether you may participate in a local bar association’s “author’s night/book signing.”

         It is ethically permissible to advise your former classmates of your recent accomplishment. However, you should not use your official judicial stationery. You may participate in the book signing and may identify yourself as a sitting judge provided that you do not exploit your judicial position to promote the book and do not comment on any pending cases.

         Enclosed, for your convenience, are Opinions 06-105 and 99-145 which address this issue.

Very truly yours,

George D. Marlow, Assoc. Justice

Appellate Division, First Dept. (Ret.)

Committee Chair

Encls.