Opinion 94-97

November 15, 1994

Digest:         A judge seeking reelection may engage in permitted election activity beginning nine months before the date of the party meeting at which a candidate will be designated.

Rule:            22 NYCRR 100.7(a)(1)

Opinion:

         A full-time judge, who plans to seek renomination for election in 1995, and who anticipates opposition to the renomination from two non-judge candidates, inquires as to when he/she may begin a reelection campaign. The party designation will take place in the spring of 1995.

         The Committee is of the opinion that the judge may begin his/her reelection activities nine-months before the party designation meeting. Rule 100.7(a)(1) of the Rules of the Chief Administrator permits political activities to begin nine months before a “primary election, judicial nominating convention, party caucus or other party meeting for nominating a candidate.” The proposed party designation in the spring of 1995 appears to be such a "party meeting for nominating a candidate."