Opinion 90-203

February 8, 1991

Honorable

Dear Judge

         The Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, at its meeting of January 24, 1991, considered your inquiry (90-203) dated December 13, 1990, concerning the winding down of your legal practice upon your recent election as judge.

         You may continue to collect rent from attorneys to whom you lease office space, and may pay rent to your landlord until the lease expires in several months. However, if one of these lawyers appears before you, you must disclose your relationship, and may preside over the case only if all parties consent, on the record, to your participation. You also may collect fees for legal services which you rendered prior to assuming judicial office, and you may retain a paid staff in your office through April for billing purposes.

Very truly yours,

Samuel J. Silverman

Chair