Novel Issue

An recent opinion from the South Carolina Advisory Committee on Standards of Judicial Conduct:

FACTS

A family court judge has written a novel that will be released by an out-of-state publishing company.  The judge would like to send out an announcement, which will be made by the publishing company, by email or postcard to members of the South Carolina Bar with whom the judge is acquainted.  The announcement would not contain any reference to the judge’s position.  The judge inquires into the propriety of the announcements.

CONCLUSION

The judge may send emails or post cards announcing the publication of the judge’s novel as long as the email does not reference the judge’s position and the email is not sent from the judge’s judicial email address or the postcards do not show a return address for the judge’s chambers.  

(Mike Frisch)