Opinion 89-15

February 24, 1989

Topic:          Propriety of a judge furnishing a letter of reference to a bank to assist a friend in obtaining a bank loan.

Digest:         A judge may not furnish a letter of reference to a bank to assist a friend in obtaining a bank loan.

Rule:            22 NYCRR §100.2(c)

Opinion:

         A judge advises that a friend has a new business about six months old, and that the business needs financing. The friend is about to apply for a bank loan and has asked the judge to furnish a letter of reference to the bank.

Section 100.2(c) of the Rules of the Chief Administrator provides, in part, that “No judge shall lend the prestige of his or her office to advance the private interests of

others...” This section prohibits a judge from giving a letter of reference to a bank on behalf of a friend, because in so doing, the judge would be lending the prestige of his or her office to advance the private interests of the friend.