Opinion 17-84

July 14, 2017

Dear :

         This responds to your inquiry (17-84) asking if you may attend a regionally exclusive newspaper interview about your life story, your religious activity, career path and work-life balance.

         The Committee has previously advised that a judge may be featured in a newspaper or magazine article. However, the judge’s participation may not interfere with his/her judicial duties, and the judge must adhere to all judicial speech limits, including the bar against commenting on pending or impending cases or making comments that would cast doubt upon a judge’s impartiality (see 22 NYCRR 100.3[B][8]; 100.4[A][1]).

         Enclosed, for your convenience, are Opinions 13-31; 11-115 and 04-117 which address this issue.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       George D. Marlow, Assoc. Justice

                                       Appellate Div., First Dep’t (Ret.)

                                       Committee Co-Chair

                                       Hon. Margaret T. Walsh

                                       Family Court Judge

                                       Acting Justice, Supreme Court

                                       Committee Co-Chair

Encls.