Opinion 92-95

September 24, 1992

Digest:         A judge may not attend a picnic sponsored by a political activities committee of a local employer.

Rule:            22 NYCRR 100.7(a).

Opinion:

         A judge asks whether he or she may attend a picnic sponsored by a political activities committee of a local major employer. The judge does not state whether he or she will purchase a ticket or will attend as a guest without charge.

         Section 100.7(a) of the Rules of the Chief Administrator prohibits a judge from the purchase, directly or indirectly, of tickets to politically-sponsored dinners or other affairs, or from attendance at such dinners or other affairs, including dinners or affairs sponsored by a political organization for a nonpolitical purpose. This limitation does not apply if a judge is running for re-election. Here, however, the inquiring judge is not within the "running for election" time period.

         Accordingly, the inquiring judge may not attend the picnic sponsored by a company's political activities committee, whether the judge is a guest or pays for admission.