Digest: A judge may attend and serve as master of ceremonies at an event honoring a Commissioner of the Board of Elections upon the Commissioner's retirement, which is not sponsored by a political organization and is not a fund-raising event.
 

Rules:  22 NYCRR 100.4(B),
            Opinion 90-154 (Vol. VI).
 
 

Opinion:

            A judge has been asked to serve as master of ceremonies and to introduce speakers at a retirement event honoring one of the two Commissioners of the Board of Elections. The affair is not sponsored by a political organization and tickets cost $10 per person.

            There is no rule prohibiting the judge from attending, speaking at or serving as master of ceremonies, at a non-political dinner or affair honoring a retiring public official. This would be a permissible extra-judicial, avocational activity under the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct. 22 NYCRR 100.4(B), Opinion 90-154, (Vol. VI).