Mentor And Partner Not

An opinion from the Florida Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee:

ISSUES

(1) Whether a retired judge eligible to serve on assignment to temporary judicial duty may mentor a law firm’s associates in effective trial practice.

ANSWER: No.

(2) Whether a retired judge eligible to serve on assignment to temporary judicial duty may assist a law firm in developing state-wide and multi-state alternative dispute resolution programs.

ANSWER: No.

(3) If (1) or (2) are permitted, whether the senior judge may permit the law firm to announce the judge as a partner with the firm.

ANSWER: This question is moot based on the Committee’s responses to questions (1) and (2).

(4) If (3) is not permitted, whether the retired judge may maintain the status of senior judge but accept no judicial assignments so long as the relationship with the law firm exists.

ANSWER: This question is moot based on the Committee’s responses to questions (1), (2) and (3).

(Mike Frisch)