Opinion 97-63

August 25,1997

Dear Judge:

         The Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, at its meeting of June 13, 1997 considered your inquiry (97-63) asking if you may accept a Community Leadership Award at a not-for -profit agency's annual dinner.

         Enclosed for your information is Opinion 94-147 (Vol. XIII) in which the committee held that, subject to certain limitations, a judge may receive an award at a not-for-profit organization's dinner as long as the dinner was not a fund-raising affair.

         Accordingly, we are of the view that you may accept the award at the not-for-profit agency's annual dinner, as long as the dinner is not a fund-raiser and you comply with the other limitations stated in Opinion 94-147.

                                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                                     Thomas P. Flaherty

                                                                     Justice of the Supreme Court

Co-Chair

                                                                     George D. Marlow

                                                                     Dutchess County Court Judge

                                                                     Co-Chair