Judicial Ethics Committee Opinions - 2003

• 03-1

  Is a judge who is socially involved in a dating relationship with an attorney in a public defender’s office disqualified from all cases involving the public defender’s office or only from cases which the specific attorney, with whom the judge is involved, has appeared as attorney of record or been involved in any manner?

• 03-2

  Is a judge whose adult child is employed by a business which is partly owned by an attorney who regularly practices before the judge disqualified from all cases involving the attorney or only disqualified from cases specifically involving the business which employs the judge’s child?

• 03-3

  Should a county judge recuse in a juvenile case where there is a difference of opinion between the Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Juvenile Services and a school district regarding in-school supervision where the judge’s spouse is a member and vice president of the school board?

• 03-4

  What are a judge’s responsibilities under the Nebraska Code of Judicial Conduct when a member of the judge’s staff presents complaints about an attorney and requests that the judge file a disciplinary complaint with the Counsel for Discipline?

• 03-5

  May a judge participate as a member of a gala ball committee for a charitable organization where the judge’s participation is limited to organizing, the judge’s name would not appear on any literature regarding the fund-raising activity, and the judge would not personally solicit any funds?