Opinion 02-109

October 24, 2002

Digest:         A judicial candidate’s campaign committee may accept a campaign contribution from a local elected official when the source of the funds is the official’s own political campaign committee account.

Rule:            22 NYCRR 100.5(A)(5)

Opinion:

         A judge who is a candidate for elective judicial office asks whether it is ethically permissible for the judge’s campaign committee to accept a campaign contribution from a local elected official (who is not a judge) where the source of the funds is the official’s own political campaign committee account.

         The Rules Governing Judicial Conduct authorize a judge’s campaign committee to accept reasonable campaign contributions and support from the public. 22 NYCRR 100.5(A)(5). It is the Committee’s opinion that this rule does not preclude a judge’s campaign committee from accepting a campaign contribution from a local elected official where the source of the funds is the official’s own political campaign committee account.