View We have been asked to render an ethics opinion as to whether a part-time general sessions judge may serve as a certified Rule 31 mediator. See generally Sup. Ct. R. 31.
Opinion 99-6
View
We have
been asked to render an ethics opinion as to whether a part-time general
sessions judge may serve as a certified Rule 31 mediator. See generally Sup.
Ct. R. 31.
Opinion 99-5 (Concur) View
We have been asked to
render an ethics opinion regarding the Code of Judicial Ethics, specifically,
(1) whether Judges and clerks may participate in a charity golf tournament
sponsored by the Tennessee Judicial Foundation by playing on teams and
sponsoring holes and/or tees, (2) whether members of bar association groups may
be involved in hole and/or tee sponsorship and (3) whether it would be
appropriate for the Foundation to seek participation from legal publishers or
other suppliers by way of either fielding teams for the golf outing or
participating in hole and/or tee sponsorship and whether such organizations
could underwrite the financing of this tournament.
Opinion 99-4 View
Before the
Committee is the question of whether a trial judge may accept part-time
employment with a large corporation if the work is non-legal in nature and the
employment would not interfere with the proper performance of judicial duties.
Opinion 99-3
View
The judge
now inquires: (1) whether or not the Court should recuse itself from ruling on
the pending divorce petition for ethical reasons; (2) whether or not a waiver
by the parties can cure any ethical disqualification of the judge; and (3)
whether or not the Court can disclose the contents of the complaint filed with
the Court of the Judiciary to all parties and counsel upon request so a waiver
of the judge's disqualification can be considered.
Opinion 99-2
View
A request
has been submitted to the Committee for an opinion regarding the propriety of
certain political activity by a part-time municipal court judge. The judge has
been requested by the "Alexander for President" campaign staff to be a
co-chairperson for the Maury County local campaign.
Opinion 99-1
View
Inquiry
has been submitted to the Committee for issuance of an opinion as to whether a
judge should recuse herself in all cases involving a certain law firm. An
attorney "of counsel" with that firm represents the judge's husband's ex-wife
in a domestic relations matter now pending in court.
Opinion 98-5
View
This
Committee has been asked to render an opinion regarding the propriety of
juvenile court judges and their employees supervising probation and other
programs for juveniles whom they have placed on any type of probation. Included
in this issue is the appointment and supervision of probation officers for
juvenile court.
Opinion 98-4
View
We have
been asked to render an ethics opinion regarding the Code of Judicial Ethics,
specifically, whether a judge or judicial candidate can respond to probative
questionnaires submitted to the judge or candidate by special advocacy groups
which ask the judge or judicial candidate the manner in which the candidate
would rule in specific cases, controversies or issues likely to come before the
court, pending endorsement by such group.
Opinion 98-3
View
The Committee has been asked to render an
opinion for a judicial candidate concerning whether or not it is permissible
under Rule 10,
Tennessee Rules of the Supreme Court, to advertise as
follows:
Experienced, Fair, Committed
Candidate's Name
Circuit
Court Judge, Part II
and (2) whether or not it is permissible under
Rule 10, Tennessee Rules of the Supreme Court, for a judicial candidate's
disclaimer on an advertisement to read as follows: "Paid advertisement. Paid
for by (candidate's name)."
Opinion 98-2
View
Inquiry
has been submitted to the Committee for issuance of an opinion of whether a
part- time General Sessions Judge with Probate jurisdiction may preside over
the routine and uncontested probate of wills he has prepared.
Opinion 98-1 (Dissent) View
Inquiry has been
submitted to the Committee for issuance of an opinion directing whether a Judge
may prepare and transmit a personal letter on private stationery to friends
and/or acquaintances endorsing the candidacy of another Judge.
Opinion 97-6
View
The committee has been asked to render an
opinion for a general sessions judge in Hamilton County concerning the date
that a candidate for general sessions judge can begin soliciting funds for the
next election.
Opinion 97-5
View
With reference to Committee Opinion No. 97-1, a
request has been presented seeking further direction relative to the following
judicial act. When a petition for an order of protection, pursuant to T.C.A.
36-3-605, is scheduled for hearing, the Judge's secretary obtains, through the
local sheriff's department, a criminal history of both the petitioner and the
respondent. Said criminal histories are compiled from T.B.I. and other local
records. The parties are apprised of the Court's possession of this information
and are questioned concerning the accuracy of the reports.
Opinion 97-3
View
The
committee has been asked to render an opinion for a chancellor concerning a
request he has received from a city police department to assist them on his
"non-judicial time" in firearms training and as a member of the police
department's competing pistol team.
Opinion 97-2
View
We
have been asked to render an ethics opinion regarding the Code of Judicial
Ethics, specifically, whether Canon 3(E) requires a judge to disqualify himself
or herself if a lawyer for one of the parties in a proceeding has been retained
by the Committee on Compensation and Retirement to assist in advocating the
maintenance or improvement of judicial compensation before the General
Assembly.