4D and 5C(2)

(1)  Whether the Inquiring Judge may serve on a mortgage fraud task force established by a city’s mayor.

(2)  Whether a Judge presiding in an adversarial probate case may recommend a mediator when asked for suggestions where both sides are present in open court.

3) Whether a Judge may continue to serve on a university’s regional planning council whose previous efforts were designed to raise the profile of the university in the community and which is now trying to raise substantial funds.

3E(1)

(1)  When a sitting judge campaigning for election is being supported by the local state attorney, sheriff, and defense lawyers, is a mass mailing to members of the local bar listing the members of the judge’s campaign committee a sufficient dicslosure pursuant to canon 3?

(2)  Is it proper for the judge to announce these relationships on the record in open court?

(3) Must the judge also post a roster of campaign committee members in the local courthouse?

3E(1); 3C(4); 3F

(1)  Whether recusal is required in cases where a Judge’s former fiancé serves as a forensic CPA expert.

(2)  Whether a Judge should disclose that a former fiancé’s CPA firm leases office space from a partnership in which the Judge is a general partner.

3B(1), 3E

When a judge has entered an order of recusal because of a “tumultuous” relationship between the judge and an assistant state attorney, whether the judge should remain on cases involving other assistant state attorneys from the same office?

5E(1)

Whether a judge may serve as a trustee or executor for a long-term friend where the friend is an out-of-state resident, the situs of the estate and trust will be out-of-state, and it is highly unlikely that any legal proceedings would occur in Florida.

2, 2B, 3C(4), 3E(1)(d), and 3F, and Commentary to 3C(4), E(1)(d), and 3F

(1) Whether the Inquiring Judge’s adult child who is a lawyer would be prohibited from accepting employment with a firm representing clients in matters before the Judge’s division. 

(2) Whether disclosure on the record at the earliest possible time of the Judge’s adult child’s employment as a lawyer with the firm, coupled with a representation that the Judge’s child does not and will not have any role in the case, and will be “walled off” from the case internally within the firm, is sufficient to avoid disqualification.

(3) Whether the Inquiring Judge may appoint a special master or receiver from a firm where the Judge’s adult child is employed as an associate attorney.

2B, 5, 5D(1)(a), 7, 7A(1)(e)

Whether the Inquiring Judge may contribute financially to defray the campaign costs of a candidate for a seat on a Florida university’s student government.

7A(2)

Whether the Code of Judicial Conduct requires a civil traffic infraction hearing officer to resign in order to run for a position as a county court judge.

7A(3), 7C(1), 7E

May a judge’s parents generate a letter soliciting campaign contributions for the judge’s re-election?

7A

(1)  May a judicial candidate, who has retired from the circuit bench, use the title “Judge” in campaign literature, media releases, printed ads, or other media venues?

(2)  May a judicial candidate, who has retired from the circuit bench, use the term “former judge” or “retired judge” in campaign literature, media releases, printed ads, or other media venues?

(3) May a judicial candidate, who has retired from the circuit bench, utilize a robe in campaign literature, media releases, printed ads, or other media venues?

(4) May the candidate’s campaign reproduce news articles (with the permission of the media source) that include editorials addressing the candidate as “Judge” or “Honorable” and that include photographs of the candidate prior to retirement, in a robe, and seated on the bench?

3B(12), 7A(1)(b), 7C(1)

(1)  May a judge seeking re-election employ signs and other campaign materials depicting the judge wearing a robe? 

(2) May a judge’s campaign web site make reference to, and facilitate, the giving of financial and other support to the judge’s re-election effort? 

(3) May the judge’s campaign materials include pictures of the judge with jurors and/or complimentary letters from jurors?

(4)  May a judge’s campaign materials include pictures of the judge with colleagues and/or other officials, elected and non-elected, and if so should those materials include a disclaimer that the persons depicted have not necessarily endorsed or decided to support the judge?