Opinion 91-150

Digest:         A housing judge may enter into a residential lease with a landlord who was the judge’s former client, but may not sit on any matters affecting the landlord or the building.

Rules:          22 NYCRR §100.3(c)

Opinion:

         A recently appointed housing judge asks whether it is permissible to rent an apartment in a building owned by a landlord, who is a former client of the judge.

         Nothing in the rules of judicial ethics prevents the inquirer from renting the apartment. The judge, however, may not preside over any matters involving the landlord or the building.