Opinion 25-04(C)

February 6, 2025

Facts/Issue:   A judge asks if he/she may preside in matters involving an attorney whose wedding the judge attended before assuming the bench.

Discussion:     We have said a judge may attend the wedding of an attorney who regularly appears in the judge’s court, provided the attorney is not on trial before the judge at time of the wedding.  Assuming the nature of the judge’s relationship with an attorney does not itself require disqualification,^[1] the judge must nonetheless disclose his/her attendance as a wedding guest when the attorney appears in the judge’s court for two years after the wedding.  In our view, the two-year period runs from the date of the wedding, even where the judge attended the attorney’s wedding before assuming the bench.

Conclusion:    For two years after attending the wedding of an attorney as a social guest, a judge must make appropriate disclosure when the attorney appears before him/her.

Authorities:   Opinions 22-138; 11-125.

---

[1] Opinion 11-125 lays out guidelines for evaluating social relationships and determining the judge’s ethical obligations.