Opinion 95-121

September 21, 1995

Digest:         A judge should not give a seminar to police officers who act as prosecutors in certain traffic cases, on how to prosecute successfully such cases.

Rules:          22 NYCRR 100.1; 100.2 (a), (c).

Opinion:

         A city court judge inquires as to the propriety of giving a seminar to police officers “concerning the requisite elements to successfully prosecute” certain traffic offenses. The judge notes that neither the District Attorney nor the Corporation Counsel prosecutes these offenses. In the judge’s view the police officers are inadequately prepared to prosecute the cases.

         The Committee is of the opinion that the judge should not give such a seminar to police officers which, in effect, would be advising the prosecution how to obtain convictions.