Dear :

         This responds to your inquiry (15-152) asking if you may accept a plea conditioned on a defendant writing an essay about traffic safety.

         In the Committee’s view, this question is legal in nature. Because the Committee is authorized to answer only questions concerning judicial ethics (see 22 NYCRR 101.1), such a legal question is outside the Committee’s jurisdiction; and, therefore, the Committee cannot respond (see Judiciary Law § 212[2][l]).          

                                       Very truly yours,

George D. Marlow, Assoc. Justice

Appellate Division, First Dept. (Ret.)

Committee Chair