Opinion 25-117

September 10, 2025

Digest:  A judge may sponsor their undergraduate alumni association’s event for students and may be recognized by name and title for this charitable contribution.

Rules:   22 NYCRR 100.2; 100.2(A); 100.3(A); 100.4(A)(1)-(3); 100.4(C)(3)(b)(i), (iv); Opinions 23-77; 18-14; 13-18; 09-199; 04-140; 00-24.

Opinion:

          A judge who is an officer of their undergraduate alumni association asks whether it is ethically permissible to sponsor an association event to welcome incoming students, by partially paying for the event.  The judge further asks if they may be recognized for such sponsorship and whether any recognition may include their judicial status.

          A judge must always avoid even the appearance of impropriety and act to promote public confidence in the judiciary’s integrity and impartiality (see 22 NYCRR 100.2; 100.2[A]).  A judge’s judicial duties take precedence over all of the judge’s other activities (see 22 NYCRR 100.3[A]).  A judge’s extra-judicial activities must therefore be compatible with judicial office and must not cast doubt on the judge’s impartiality, detract from judicial dignity, or interfere with proper performance of judicial duties (see 22 NYCRR 100.4[A][1]-[3]).  A judge may not personally participate in the solicitation of funds or permit the use of judicial prestige for fund-raising or membership solicitation (see 22 NYCRR 100.4[C][3][b][i], [iv]).

          Judges may make charitable donations (see Opinion 04-140).  Indeed, we have advised that a judge may support a not-for-profit educational, religious, charitable, cultural, fraternal or civic organization by sponsoring the organization’s program or event (see e.g. Opinions 23-77 [judge may sponsor an award at civic entity’s Independence Day parade]; 13-18 [judge may sponsor a charity golf outing]; 00-24 [judge may sponsor a Little League team]).  We have further advised that the not-for-profit organization may acknowledge the sponsorship, using both the judge’s name and judicial title (see Opinions 23-77; 18-14; 13-18; 09-199).   

          Accordingly, we conclude this judge may sponsor their alumni association’s event by partially paying for the event and may be recognized for the sponsorship by name and title.