Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee Opinions

23-1    Whether a judge should recuse when an attorney is an elected member of the Board of Supervisors for the locality
02/23/2024

22-2    An active judge may not concurrently serve on the United States Court of Military Commission Review
03/07/2023

21-1    A judge may serve as a member of the judiciary board of a church
05/13/2021

20-3    Retired judge serving on the recall list may also serve as an administrative hearing officer conducting hearings involving Title IX complaints for a private university
06/09/2021

20-2    A judge may not write and publish an article asserting a particular criminal law statute has been incorrectly interpreted by the Supreme Court of Virginia and providing an alternative interpretation, even with appropriate disclaimers
03/12/2021

20-1    A judge may direct the court clerk to include with unlawful detainer summonses additional materials which describe legal and financial assistance available to tenants, under specific proscribed parameters and procedures
03/12/2021

19-4    A judge may hear cases involving an attorney who co-owns a limited liability company that rents a parking space to the judge, with disclosure of the relevant facts to, and waiver of, the parties and the attorneys involved
05/01/2020

19-3   A judge may participate in a continuing legal education seminar presented by a local bar association, where attendees are charged a fee for admission and which may result in a profit for the bar association, subject to restrictions imposed by the Canons of Judicial Conduct
10/01/2019

19-2   A judge may wear a judicial robe while attending the retirement ceremony for another judge to be held in a courtroom
08/27/2019

19-1   A judge should not wear his or her judicial robe while attending the funeral service for another judge
04/12/2019

17-1    A judge may serve and participate in an honorary capacity during a festival and related events sponsored by a community-based non-profit organization, subject to restrictions imposed by the Canons of Judicial Conduct
07/27/2017

16-2    A substitute judge who represents a local police union and its police officer members under an ongoing contract shall not preside in cases involving local police
09/29/16

16-1    Recusal When a Lawyer Who Regularly Appears Before a Judge is a Party or Witness in a Proceeding Before that Judge
04/28/2016

08-1   Propriety of Judge Serving as Pastor or Minister
[The Committee withdrew this opinion on February 17, 2010.]
03/09/2010

06-1 Circumstances under which judges may send letters of recommendation. 
10/12/2006

03-4    A Judge May Serve As An Officer In The Judge Advocate General's Corps Of The Reserve Components Of The Armed Forces Of The United States (Amended May 21, 2004)
11/21/2003

03-3    Propriety of a Judge's Serving on Board of Non-Profit Corporation that Assists and Educates Members of the Legal Profession who Suffer from Chemical Dependency (Amended November 21, 2003)
07/18/2003

03-2    Propriety of a Judge Recommending a Candidate for a Judgeship to a Legislative Committee (Amended July 18, 2003)
05/16/2003

03-1    Recusal Based Upon Attorneys' Subleasing of Office Building Owned by Judge and a Subtenant Attorney's Family Relationship with Lessee
05/16/2003

01-8    Recusal Based Upon Acquaintance With Party, Attorney or Witness
07/16/2001

01-7    Judge With Ownership Interest in a Building, a Part of Which is Subleased by Judge's Former Partner to an Attorney who Appears in Judge's Court
07/16/2001

01-6    Propriety of a Judge's Signing Application for Appointment as a Notary
04/27/2001

01-5    Compensation for Judges Pro Tempore Appointed Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 17.1-110
04/27/2001

01-4    Propriety of a Judge Lecturing or Teaching in Police Training Programs
03/28/2001

01-3    Judge's Leaving Accumulated Funds In Former Law Firm's Profit Sharing Plan
03/28/2001

01-2    May a Judge Testify as to Facts Witnessed While He Was a Practicing Attorney but Before He Became a Judge?
03/12/2001

01-1    May a Judge Report a Physician for Over-Prescribing Drugs Based on Information Learned in the Course of a Child Custody Proceeding in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court?
02/07/2001

00-9    Propriety of a Judge's Serving as Officer or Director of Property Owners Association.
11/08/2000

00-8    Propriety of a Judge's Writing or Telephoning the Virginia State Bar Supporting a Petition for Reinstatement of an Attorney Whose License had been Surrendered or in Support of an Attorney Facing Disciplinary Action.
09/11/2000

00-7   Judge's Responding to Legislator's Inquiry Regarding a Case.
09/11/2000

00-6    Propriety of a Judge Serving as a Member of the Virginia State Crime Commission.
07/17/2000

00-5   Whether A Judge Who Holds Stock in a Publicly Held Corporation Must Recuse Himself/Herself When That Corporation is a Party.
07/17/2000

00-4   Circuit Court Judge Having Ex Parte Communications with Probation Officers.
05/08/2000

00-3   Propriety of a Judge's Serving on Board of a Juvenile Group Home Which Accepts Court Referrals.
03/27/2000

00-2   Judges Serving on Community Criminal Justice Boards.
02/01/2000

00-1   Propriety of a Judge's Voting in a Primary Election or "Firehouse Primary".
02/01/2000

99-8    Substitute Judge's Listing of Judicial Status in Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
11/18/1999

99-7   Judge's Participating in Media Interviews Concerning Legal Issues
11/17/1999

99-6    Propriety of a Judge's Voting in a Primary Election or "Firehouse Primary"
11/15/1999

99-5    Judge's Receiving Ex Parte Letters from Prisoners
10/06/1999

99-4    Judge's Recusal When the Judge has Filed a Complaint Against One of the Lawyers with the Virginia State Bar
09/21/1999

99-3    Retired Judge's Soliciting Contributions for National Judicial College
09/21/1999

99-2    Substitute Judges Performing Marriage Ceremonies
06/06/1999

99-1    Substitute Judges Listing Position in Biographical Information
06/06/1999