Opinion 95-71

April 27, 1995

Digest:         A full-time judge may serve as co-chair of a committee of a synagogue to determine the feasibility of the synagogue's acquisition of a building where the judge is not engaged in fundraising and neither the judge's name nor position is used in any fundraising effort.

Rule:            22 NYCRR 100.5(b)

Opinion:

         A full-time judge has been asked by a synagogue of which he/she is a member to serve as co-chair of a committee to determine the feasibility of the synagogue acquiring a building. It may be necessary for the committee to raise funds to pay a consultant in connection with a feasibility study. The judge has informed the synagogue that he/she could not be engaged in fundraising and that neither the judge's name nor position are to be used in the fundraising effort.

         On the facts presented, the Committee is of the opinion that there is no ethical bar to the judge engaging in the activity described.