The Art Of Judging

 A new judicial ethics opinion from South Carolina reaches an unsurprising result:

                                         ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT

                                                                                OPINION NO. 2 – 2017

RE: Propriety of the Magistrate’s Court placing artwork for sale in the courthouse and also posting advertisements for local restaurants or other vendors.

                                                                                          FACTS

A magistrate judge inquires as to the propriety of placing artwork for sale in the courthouse and also posting advertisements for local restaurants or other vendors. The court utilizes electronic court boards for legal notices and it has been proposed that these electronic boards also include the advertisements.

                                                                                     CONCLUSION

The Magistrate’s Court should not place artwork for sale in the courthouse or post advertisements for local restaurants or other vendors.

                                                                                       DISCUSSION

Canon 2B states that a judge “shall not lend the prestige of judicial office to advance the private interest of the judge or others[.]” By placing artwork for sale in the courthouse, the magistrate would appear to be advancing the private interests of the artists whose works are displayed. Likewise, if advertisements for local restaurants and other businesses were displayed in the Magistrate’s Court or on the magistrate electronic boards for legal notices, the magistrate’s court could appear to be advancing the private interests of those businesses.  Thus, the magistrate cannot place artwork for sale in the courthouse or also post advertisements for local restaurants or other vendors without violating the Code of Judicial Conduct.

(Mike Frisch)