Opinion 08-168

November 3, 2008

Hon.

Dear Judge

         This responds to your inquiry (08-168) in which you ask whether your spouse may serve as treasurer of a town [“political party”] committee.

         A judge’s spouse may engage in his/her own individual political activities. However, the spouse must not state that he/she represents the judge in that capacity. Thus, this Committee has previously concluded that there is no ethical prohibition against a judge’s spouse serving on a campaign committee of a candidate for District Attorney, serving as a committee member of a political party, or serving as a campaign manager for a candidate seeking re-election to political office.

         Please refer to Opinions 95-22, 94-60 and 91-85, enclosed for your convenience, which address this issue.

Very truly yours,

George D. Marlow

Justice of the Supreme Court

Committee Chair

Encls.