Opinion 26-32

March 26, 2026

Facts/Issue:    May a full-time judge volunteer in his/her off-hours as an unpaid “curriculum reviewer” for a public high school’s Law and Politics program?  The judge would not “draft or create content,” but instead would review material for the proposed curriculum to assist with the submission of a comprehensive, enriching program. 

Discussion:     Although a judge may not serve on a public school board, a judge may serve on an advisory panel for a proposed school of law and finance that is being established by a local high school.  We have also said a judge may serve on a criminal justice curriculum advisory committee of a community college, on an advisory panel for a community college’s paralegal program, or on the advisory board to an academic/clinical unit within a private law school.  Here, too, on the facts presented, we conclude the proposed educational activity is permissible.^[1]

Conclusion:     A full-time judge may serve as an unpaid curriculum reviewer for a public high school’s Law and Politics program.

Authorities:    Opinions 20-119; 16-76; 13-155; 07-199; 07-164; 02-63; 88-151.

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[1] As the work is unpaid and does not appear to involve a public office or trust, we see no need to distinguish between a full-time and part-time judge here.