April 25, 1988

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Opinion 88/8

Jurisdiction of the Committee

Re: Committee on Standards of Conduct Governing Judges
Your inquiry dated February 24, 1988

Dear Mr.

Your letter directed to Judge Tedder has been referred to me. Judge Tedder resigned from the judiciary at the end of February and I have succeeded him as Chairman of the Committee.

Notwithstanding that your inquiry is based upon professional services you have performed for members of the judiciary, the authority granted the Committee by the Supreme Court is confined to rendering of advisory opinions to inquiring judges and judicial candidates "relating to the propriety of contemplated judicial and non-judicial conduct," Petition of the Committee on Standards of Conduct for Judges 327 So2d 5 (Fla. 1976).

Accordingly, the Committee must decline responding to the request contained in your letter. The Committee appreciates your concerns and interest, but it is not empowered to act in the manner you seek.

Cordially yours,

Richard H. Frank, Chairman
Committee on Standards of Conduct Governing Judges

RHF/jf
cc: All Committee Members

Participating Members: Judges Booth, Dell, Frank, Goldstein, Green, Levy and Attorney Page

All reference to the inquiring judge is deleted from the copies sent to the following individuals.

Mr. Sid White, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Florida
Linda Yates, Managing Editor, The Florida Bar Journal
Brooke S. Kennerly, Executive Director, Judicial Qualifications Commission.
Hon. Howard T. Markey, Chairman, Ethics Advisory Panel of the Judicial Conference of the United States .
Jeffrey M. Shaman, Esquire, Director, Center for Judicial Conduct Organizations
Ms. Jean Underhill, Librarian, Broward County Law Library
Mr. Robert Wallace, Librarian, Dade County Law Library
Mr. Brian Polley, Librarian, Supreme Court of Florida