GEORGIA CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT

1 1 GEORGIA code OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT Table of Contents Preamble ..Page 3 Terminology ..Page 5 Application ..Page 10 A. Part-time Judges ..Page 10 B. Judges Pro Tempore ..Page 11 C. Time for Compliance ..Page 12 D. Ongoing Disciplinary Authority ..Page 12 Canons, Rules, and Commentary ..Page 13 Canon 1 Judges Shall Uphold the Independence, Integrity, and Impartiality of the Judiciary ..Page 13 Rule Preserving JUDICIAL Independence, Integrity, and Impartiality ..Page 13 Canon 2 Judges Shall Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All of Their Activities ..Page 14 Rule Complying With the Law and Promoting Public Confidence in the Judiciary ..Page 14 Rule Respecting the Prestige of JUDICIAL Office ..Page 14 Rule Avoiding Associations That Undermine the Impartiality of Judges ..Page 16 Canon 3 Judges Shall Perform the Duties of JUDICIAL Office Impartially, Competently and Diligently.

2 Page 17 Rule Giving Priority to JUDICIAL Duties in General ..Page 17 Rule Adjudicating Pending Proceedings Fairly ..Page 17 Rule Avoiding Bias and Prejudice ..Page 18 Rule Assuring Fair Hearings and Averting Ex Parte Communications ..Page 19 Rule Effective Disposition of Cases ..Page 22 Rule Public and Non-Public Comments ..Page 22 Rule Performing Administrative Responsibilities ..Page 23 Rule Responding to JUDICIAL and Lawyer Misconduct ..Page 25 Rule Disqualification and Recusal ..Page 26 2 Rule Remittal of Disqualification ..Page 29 Canon 4 Judges May Engage in Activities to Improve the Law, the Legal System, and the Administration of Justice ..Page 31 Rule Participation in Law-Related or Quasi- JUDICIAL Activities ..Page 31 Canon 5 Judges Shall Regulate Their Extra- JUDICIAL Activities to Minimize the Risk of Conflict With Their JUDICIAL Duties.

3 Page 33 Rule Participating in Extra- JUDICIAL or Avocational Activities ..Page 33 Rule Civic and Charitable Activities ..Page 33 Rule Financial Activities and Business Dealings ..Page 34 Rule Gifts or Similar Benefits ..Page 35 Rule Fiduciary Activities ..Page 39 Rule Arbitration and Mediation ..Page 39 Rule Practice of Law ..Page 39 Rule Accepting Extra- JUDICIAL Appointments ..Page 40 Canon 6 Judges Shall Regularly File Reports of Compensation Received for Quasi- JUDICIAL and Extra- JUDICIAL Related Activities ..Page 41 Rule Receiving and Reporting Quasi- JUDICIAL and Extra- JUDICIAL Compensation ..Page 41 Rule Reasonable Compensation ..Page 41 Rule Expense Reimbursement ..Page 41 Rule Reports and Procedures for Reporting ..Page 42 Canon 7 Judges Shall Refrain From Political Activity Inappropriate to Their JUDICIAL Office ..Page 43 Rule Political CONDUCT in General.

4 Page 43 Rule Campaign CONDUCT ..Page 43 Rule Candidacy for Appointive JUDICIAL Office ..Page 46 Rule Candidacy for Non- JUDICIAL Office ..Page 46 Rule Applicability of the Political CONDUCT Rules ..Page 47 Effective Date of code ..Page 47 Appendix: Citations to Terminology ..Page 48 3 GEORGIA code OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT PREAMBLE Our legal system is based on the principle that an independent, fair, and competent judiciary will interpret and apply the laws that govern us. The role of the judiciary is central to American concepts of justice and the rule of law. Intrinsic to all sections of this code are the precepts that judges, individually and collectively, must respect and honor the JUDICIAL office as a public trust and strive to enhance and maintain confidence in our legal system. Every judge should strive to maintain the dignity appropriate to the JUDICIAL office.

5 The judge is an arbiter of facts and law for the resolution of disputes and a highly visible symbol of government under the rule of law. Judges should avoid both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in their professional and personal lives. They should at all times exhibit behavior that ensures the greatest possible public confidence in their independence, impartiality, integrity, and competence. As a result, judges should be held to a higher standard, and should CONDUCT themselves with the dignity accorded their esteemed position. The code of JUDICIAL CONDUCT establishes standards for ethical CONDUCT of judges and JUDICIAL candidates. It consists of broad statements called Canons, specific Rules as well as Commentary set forth under each Canon, a Terminology section, an Application section, and a Preamble. The text of the Canons and the Rules, including the Terminology and Application sections, is authoritative.

6 The Commentary and the Preamble, by explanation and example, provide guidance with respect to the purpose and meaning of the Canons and the Rules. Neither the Preamble nor the Commentary is intended as a statement of additional Rules. When the text uses shall or shall not, it is intended to impose binding obligations the violation of which are grounds for disciplinary action. When should or should not is used, the text is intended as an advisory statement of what is or is not appropriate CONDUCT , and the violation of which may be grounds for disciplinary action. When may is used, it denotes permissible discretion or, depending on the context, it refers to action that is not covered by specific proscriptions. The Canons and the Rules should be applied as rules of reason consistent with constitutional requirements, statutes, other court rules and decisional law, including advisory opinions issued by the JUDICIAL Qualifications Commission, as well as in the context of all relevant circumstances.

7 The code is to be construed so as not to impinge on the essential independence 4 of judges in making JUDICIAL decisions, or on judges First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and association. The code is designed to provide guidance to judges and JUDICIAL candidates and to provide a structure for regulating CONDUCT through disciplinary agencies. It is not designed for nor intended as a basis for civil liability or criminal prosecution. Neither is it intended to be the basis for litigants to seek collateral remedies against each other or to obtain tactical advantages in proceedings before a court. The Canons and the Rules are intended to govern CONDUCT of judges and JUDICIAL candidates, and in certain circumstances to be binding upon them. It is not intended, however, that every transgression will result in disciplinary action. Whether disciplinary action is appropriate, and the degree of discipline to be imposed, should be determined through a reasonable and reasoned application of the text and should depend on such factors as the seriousness of the transgression, whether there is a pattern of improper activity, and the effect of the improper activity on others or on the JUDICIAL system.

8 The code of JUDICIAL CONDUCT is not intended as an exhaustive guide for the CONDUCT of judges and JUDICIAL candidates. They should also be governed in their professional and personal CONDUCT by general ethical standards. Judges and JUDICIAL candidates should strive to achieve the highest ethical standards, even if not required by this code . The mandatory provisions of the Canons and the Rules describe the basic minimal ethical requirements that should govern the behavior of all judges and JUDICIAL candidates, and provide guidance to assist them in establishing and maintaining high standards of professional and personal CONDUCT . 5 TERMINOLOGY The terms defined below are noted using italic print in the Canons and Rules, Preamble, Application and Terminology sections of this code . In the body of Commentary, which is presented using italic print, these special terms are noted by use of regular print.

9 An asterisk (*) indicates reference to a definition adopted from the GEORGIA Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act of 2010 (OCGA 21-5-3), as may be amended from time to time. This code s concluding Appendix to Citations of Terminology contains citations to specific Canons, Rules or Commentary where the terms are used. Aggregate, in relation to contributions* for a JUDICIAL candidate, means not only contributions* in cash or in kind made directly to a JUDICIAL candidate or the JUDICIAL candidate s campaign committee* within the current or immediately preceding election cycle,* but also all contributions* made indirectly or independently with the knowledge that they will be used to influence the election. Appropriate action means action intended and reasonably likely to prevent harm to the justice system and help the judge or lawyer in question address the problem.

10 Appropriate action may include, but is not limited to, communicating directly with the judge who may have violated this code , communicating with a supervising judge, or reporting the suspected violation to the appropriate authority or other agency or body. Similarly, actions to be taken in response to information indicating that a lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional CONDUCT may include, but are not limited to, communicating directly with the lawyer who may have committed the violation, or reporting the suspected violation to the appropriate authority or other agency or body. Appropriate authority denotes the authority with responsibility for initiation of disciplinary process with respect to the violation to be reported. Campaign committee is defined as that term is defined by the GEORGIA Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act of 2010 (OCGA 21-5-3), as may be amended from time to time.