Opinion 93-128

December 9, 1993

Digest:         A judge may accept a Lehman-LaGuardia Award at a breakfast sponsored by two civic organizations, provided that the breakfast is not a fundraiser.

Rule:            22 NYCRR 100.5(b)(2)

Opinion:

         A full-time judge inquires whether it is permissible to accept the Lehman-LaGuardia Award at a breakfast co-sponsored by two civic groups. The inquiring judge states that the breakfast is family-oriented and is not a fundraiser.

         Section 100.5(b)(2) of the Rules of the Chief Administrator provides, inter alia, that judges may participate in a civic event that does not reflect adversely upon their impartiality or interfere with the performance of judicial duties, provided that the event is not a fundraiser.

         It is the opinion of this Committee, therefore, that there is no ethical bar to the inquiring judge accepting the Lehman-LaGuardia Award.