Evenly Split

An opinion issued last month by the Florida Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee

Opinion Number: 2018-27
Date of Issue: October 26, 2018

1. May the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges and the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida (collectively “Conferences”) or individual judges seek donations from the Conferences’ members so that the Conferences can directly provide monetary assistance, to fellow judges, judicial assistants, and court staff impacted by Hurricane Michael?

ANSWER: The JEAC is evenly divided on this question. Half believe the fund raising activity is permissible, while the other half believe that it is impermissible.

2. Can the organizations set a matching dollar limit?

ANSWER: This is not primarily a judicial ethics issue; thus no opinion is provided.

3. May the donations be collected using an electronic format including, but not limited to, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo and/or GoFundMe?

ANSWER: This is not primarily a judicial ethics issue; thus, no opinion is provided. However, the inquirers should consider whether these platforms can be relied upon to prevent non-judges from donating if the inquiring parties decide to go forward with the described fund-raising activities.

(Mike Frisch)