Opinion 93-106

October 28, 1993

Please Note: Since Republican Party of Minnesota v White, 536 US 765 (2002), the Committee has issued more recent guidance on responding to questionnaires and participating in endorsement interviews. Please review Opinions 15-71, 17-28, and 18-95 and consult the full Advisory Committee or the Judicial Campaign Ethics Center for further guidance as needed.

Digest:         A judicial candidate may answer the questions posed in a questionnaire of a Bar Association's Judicial Screening Committee, provided that the questions do not seek to elicit: (1) the candidate's views on particular political or legal questions, or (2) a formal or informal pledge as to the position the candidate will take on such questions.

Rules:          Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 7B(1)(c)

Opinion:

         A judicial candidate inquires whether it is proper to answer the questions posed in a questionnaire sent to the candidate by the Judicial Screening Committee of a Bar Association.

         It is the opinion of this Committee that there is no ethical prohibition to the candidate's answering the questions if he or she wishes to do so. However, the candidate should not answer any questions that seek to elicit: (1) the candidate's views on particular political or legal questions, or (2) a formal or informal pledge as to the position the candidate will take on such questions.