Opinion 90-76

June 7, 1990

Digest:         A judge may not rent an apartment to New York State Troopers who issue traffic tickets that would come to trial in the judge’s court.

Rules:          22 NYCRR 100.5(c)

Opinion:

         A part-time judge inquires whether the judge may rent an apartment to New York State Troopers, who issue traffic tickets, which would be tried in the judge’s court.

         Section 100.5(c) of the Rules of the Chief Administrator provides that a judge should refrain from financial and business dealings that may involve the judge “in frequent transactions with . . . persons likely to come before the court on which he or she serves.” As these State Troopers are likely to appear in the judge’s court in trials involving traffic tickets which they issue, the judge should not rent an apartment to the State Troopers.