Opinion 93-80

September 14, 1993

Digest:         A judge may not contribute unexpended campaign funds to a community legal assistance group, but should return those funds to the donors.

Rules:          22 NYCRR §100.7.

Opinion:

         A recently-elected judge inquires whether the judge's campaign committee may donate unexpended campaign funds to a local community legal assistance group. This Committee has consistently advised that unexpended campaign funds be returned to the donors thereof. In Opinion 87-02, (Vol. I) the Committee stated that such funds may not be donated to a charitable organization, since the judge would receive an indirect personal benefit from such a donation. For the same reason, this Committee determined in Opinion 92-29 (Vol. IX) that such funds should not be contributed to a bar association.

         That reasoning would apply equally to the present request.