California Ethics Group Tells Judges Not to Party With Lawyers

California judges should refrain from attending law firm celebrations at the firm’s offices with complimentary food and beverages under a draft ethics advisory out for comment.

The California Supreme Court’s Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions’ draft opinion follows a request on whether a judicial officer could attend a 50th anniversary celebration.

“A judicial officer’s presence at such an event may suggest that the judicial officer has a special relationship with the law firm, which may undermine the impartiality of the judiciary or convey the impression that the law firm is in a position to influence the judicial officer’s judicial decisions,” ...