Opinion 93-121

September 9, 1993

Digest:         A full-time judge may serve on the legislative committee of a Child Resource Center, the interests of which involve the protection of children and youth.

Rules:          22 NYCRR 100.4(c); 100.5(b).

Opinion:

         A full-time judge inquires whether a judge may serve on a legislative committee of a child resource center, which is not a governmental agency. The judge advises that the committee is responsible for identifying legislative issues and concerns, proposing legislative positions and advocacy initiatives, and monitoring legislative action on proposed bills regarding the protection of children and youth.

         Section 100.4(c) of the Rules of the Chief Administrator provides that:

(a) judge may serve as a member, officer or director of an organization or governmental agency devoted to the improvement of the law, the legal system or the administration of justice ....

         Section 100.5(b) provides that a judge may serve as an officer, director, trustee or nonlegal advisor of a civic or charitable organization not conducted for the economic or political advantage of its members.

         It appears to this Committee that serving as a member of a legislative committee for a child resource center falls within the parameters of sections 100.4(c) and 100.5(b) in that the judge would be a member of an organization devoted to the improvement of the legal system and the administration of justice. Further, it does not appear that the resource center would be appearing before the judge, and thus does not give the appearance of impropriety.