Opinion 95-59

April 27, 1995

Please Note: A non-judge candidate for elective judicial office may participate in the committee's candidate designation process only to the extent of voting to designate him/herself, and must continue to abide by all applicable limitations of 22 NYCRR 100.5. See Opinion 24-131 for more detailed guidance on this topic.

Digest:         A candidate for judicial office is not obligated to resign as a member of the town committee of a political party.

Rule:            Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 7

Opinion: 

         An announced candidate for the office of town justice is presently a member of the town committee of a political party. The inquirer asks whether as a candidate for judicial office he/she must resign from the political committee.

         The Committee is of the opinion that the inquirer, as candidate, need not resign at this point. Membership on a town party committee is not an office in a political organization, which is forbidden to a candidate for judicial office under Canon 7 of the Code of Judicial Conduct.