Opinion 09-157

                                                 November 10, 2009

Hon.

Dear Justice:

         This responds to your inquiry (09-157) asking whether it is permissible for you to appear before the Planning or Zoning Board, of the same Village where you serve as the Justice, to represent your personal interests in your capacities as an individual owner of real property and as the president of a corporation which owns real property. There is nothing in the Rules Governing Judicial Conduct which prohibits a justice from representing his/her personal interests pro se before a Town Planning or Zoning Board. Therefore, you may proceed pro se before either board as long as it is legally permissible to do so.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 George D. Marlow

                                                 Justice of the Supreme Court (Ret.)

                                                 Committee Chair