1996-12: Judge Attendance at a Political Dinner with Spouse Who is a Candidate for Sheriff

DISCLAIMER:  This Opinion interprets the 1993 Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct, which was superseded on January 1, 2023, by the 2023 Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct.  This Opinion does not consider or address whether the 2023 Code affects the analysis or conclusion of the Opinion.  A table cross-referencing the 1993 Code to the 2023 Code can be found at  IJEC CORRELATION TABLE.

IJEC Opinion No. 1996-12

July 16, 1996

TOPIC

Judge attendance at a political dinner with spouse who is a candidate for Sheriff. 

DIGEST

A judge may attend political gatherings and may buy tickets for such gatherings. 

REFERENCES

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 67B of the Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 7 (145 Ill.2d R. 67); Illinois Judicial Ethics Opinion No. 94-21.

FACTS

The spouse of a judge is running for Sheriff and is having a fund-raising function which the judge is invited to attend. 

QUESTION

May a judge attend a political function for spouse who is running for Sheriff? 

OPINION

Since the amendment of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 67, effective August 6, 1993, judges are expressly permitted to attend political gatherings. The relationship of the judge to the candidate is irrelevant to the ethical issue. 

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 67B(1)(a)(i) provides: 

1. A judge or candidate may, except as prohibited by law:    

i. purchase tickets for and attend political gatherings  

Pursuant to this Amended Rule, the judge is permitted to attend the spouse's political dinner. The judge is also permitted by the Rules to buy tickets to the dinner, and may even be introduced. (See IJEC Opinion No. 94-21)