Rule:    22 NYCRR 100.3(B)(8); 100.3(B)(10).
 
 
 

Opinion:

            A Family Court hearing examiner, who is also a retired law professor, asks whether it is permissible to serve as chair of a special committee of a county bar association whose goal is to secure continuing legal education accredited provider status for the bar association. Also, the hearing examiner inquires whether teaching courses in Family Law and Trial Advocacy as part of a continuing legal education program is proper. The inquirer notes that such teaching would be without remuneration.

            Participation in educational bar association activities is not proscribed by any of the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct and is an activity that is widely engaged in by judges. The only caveat would be that the hearing examiner should not permit this involvement to interfere with, or infringe upon, regular hearing examiner duties and that in the course of teaching or lecturing no comments should be made about any pending or impending proceedings. 22 NYCRR 100.3(B)(8). Further, disclosure should not be made of any non-public information that has been acquired in the hearing examiner's official capacity. 22 NYCRR 100.3(B)(10).