News

NEWS RELEASE  |  November 21, 2025

Invitation to Comment: Disclosure and Disqualification Considerations Regarding Former Judicial Mentees in the California Judicial Mentor Program

Committee invites public comment on draft formal opinion addressing when judicial mentors in the California Judicial Mentor Program (CJMP) must disclose past mentorship or disqualify themselves if a former mentee appears before them. 

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  November 21, 2025

Invitation for Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2025-031: Disclosure and Disqualification Considerations Regarding Former Judicial Mentees in the California Judicial Mentor Program

Deadline to submit comment is Jan 5, 2026.

NEWS RELEASE  |  September 12, 2025

Ethics Committee issues Advice on Ceremonial Swearing-In of New Attorneys

Committee issues expedited opinion on whether a judge may ethically conduct a ceremonial swearing-in for attorneys who have already taken the official oath of admission.

EXPEDITED OPINION  |  September 12, 2025

CJEO Expedited Opinion 2025-052: Ceremonial Swearing-In

New expedited opinion addresses whether a judge may perform a ceremonial swearing-in for new admittees to the State Bar who have already taken their official oath of admission and submitted their oath cards.

NEWS RELEASE  |  August 20, 2025

California Ethics Committee Issues Opinion on Judicial Participation in Inns of Court

Committee encourages judicial membership while outlining ethical considerations for judges participating in Inns of Court activities.

FORMAL OPINION  |  August 20, 2025

CJEO Formal Opinion 2025-030: Participation in Inns of Court

New formal opinion advises that judicial participation in Inns of Court is not only permitted but encouraged as an important form of judicial engagement.

NEWS RELEASE  |  August 7, 2025

California Ethics Committee Issues Opinion on Disqualification and Disclosure Requirements Under the Racial Justice Act

Committee provides guidance for judges with prior experience as prosecutors handling discovery motions under the Racial Justice Act.

FORMAL OPINION  |  August 7, 2025

CJEO Formal Opinion 2025-028: Disqualification and Disclosure Requirements Under the Racial Justice Act

New formal opinion addresses whether a judge who formerly served as a prosecutor must disqualify from a case involving a discovery motion under the Racial Justice Act.

NEWS RELEASE  |  May 27, 2025

Invitation to Comment: Disqualification and Disclosure Requirements Under the Racial Justice Act

Committee invites public comment on a draft formal opinion addressing disclosure and disqualification requirements in cases involving Racial Justice Act claims. 

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  May 27, 2025

Invitation for Public Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2025-028: Disqualification and Disclosure Requirements Under the Racial Justice Act

Deadline to comment is July 11.

NEWS RELEASE  |  May 7, 2025

Invitation to Comment: Participation in Inns of Court

Committee invites public comment on a draft formal opinion about judges participating in Inns of Court—professional groups that bring together judges, lawyers, and law students to improve the practice of law.

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  May 7, 2025

Invitation for Public Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2025-030: Participation in Inns of Court

Deadline to comment is June 23, 2025.

NEWS RELEASE  |  April 11, 2025

California Ethics Committee Counsel to Retire

Nancy Black helped guide the work of the Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions, an independent committee established by the California Supreme Court that advised judges on a range of modern ethical issues.

NEWS RELEASE  |  November 27, 2024

Supreme Court Makes Appointments to Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions

The California Supreme Court announces the reappointment of three current members and the appointment of a new member to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions (CJEO).

NEWS RELEASE  |  November 19, 2024

Ethics Committee Advises Judges on Responding to Public Criticism

Committee issues formal opinion discussing ethical guidelines for judges who want to make a public comment on a pending proceeding during a judicial election or recall campaign.

FORMAL OPINION  |  November 19, 2024

CJEO Formal Opinion 2024-027: Public Comment on a Pending Proceeding in Connection with a Judicial Election or Recall Campaign

New opinion analyzes the 2020 amendment to canon 3B(9) of the Code of Judicial Ethics, which permits, in connection with a judicial election or recall campaign, any judge to make a public comment about a pending proceeding, subject to certain restrictions. The committee outlines the ethical guardrails on the wider latitude judges now have to publicly respond to criticism.

NEWS RELEASE  |  August 5, 2024

For Public Comment: Judicial Response to Public Criticism of a Pending Case

Committee invites public comment on a draft formal opinion addressing the ethical parameters of judicial response to public criticism of a pending proceeding.

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  August 5, 2024

Invitation to Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2024-027: Public Comment on a Pending Proceeding in Connection with a Judicial Election or Recall Campaign

Deadline to submit public comment is September 20, 2024.

NEWS RELEASE |  July 29, 2024

For Public Comment: Judges Participating in School Fundraising

Committee invites public comment on draft formal opinion addressing whether judges can be involved in their children’s school fundraisers. The specific question raised was whether a judge, whose child is participating in a school fundraiser, may send a fundraising website link to neighbors and friends who already pledged to participate in the fundraiser after being asked by the child. 

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  July 29, 2024

Invitation to Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2024-026: Fundraising Activities for Child’s School

Deadline to submit public comment is September 13, 2024.

NEWS RELEASE  |  February 22, 2024

Ethics Committee Advises on Judicial Response to Attorney Misconduct

Committee issues formal opinion discussing judges’ ethical and statutory obligations when responding to attorney misconduct.

FORMAL OPINION  |  February 22, 2024

CJEO Formal Opinion 2024-025: Responding to Attorney Misconduct

New formal opinion advises that judicial officers must comply with their statutory obligations to report certain types of attorney misconduct to the State Bar and take appropriate corrective action consistent with the Code of Judicial Ethics. The opinion outlines steps judges should take when assessing the nature and seriousness of attorney misconduct, determining whether mandatory reporting obligations exist, and deciding what course of corrective action is warranted.

NEWS RELEASE  |  December 4, 2023

For Public Comment: Judicial Response to Attorney Misconduct

Committee invites public comment on draft formal opinion addressing how judicial officers should respond to attorney misconduct.

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  December 4, 2023

Invitation to Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2023-025: Responding to Attorney Misconduct

Deadline to submit public comments is January 19, 2024.

NEWS RELEASE  |  November 27, 2023

Ethics Committee Issues Advice about Out-of-State Employment by Retired Judge

Committee issues expedited opinion on whether a retired judge, who is an active member of California’s temporary assigned judges program, may seek employment as government affairs director of another state.

EXPEDITED OPINION  |  November 27, 2023

CJEO Expedited Opinion 2023-051: Extrajudicial Service as a Government Affairs Director for Another State's Attorney General

New expedited opinion advises that it would be improper for a retired judge to hold a position as a government affairs director reporting to the attorney general of another state while simultaneously serving in the temporary assigned judges program in California.

NEWS RELEASE  |  October 19, 2023

Supreme Court Appoints Members to Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions

The California Supreme Court announces the reappointment of three current members on the Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions.

NEWS RELEASE  |  August 29, 2023

RSVP? Ethics Committee Advises Judges on Private Law Firm Celebrations

After considering public comment, committee issues final opinion on ethical considerations for judicial officers invited to celebrations for private, for-profit law firms.

FORMAL OPINION  |  August 29, 2023

CJEO Formal Opinion 2023-024: Accepting Invitations to Law Firm Celebrations

New formal opinion advises that a judicial officer should not accept an invitation to a law firm's anniversary celebration as it could violate several canons, including prohibitions against bias and the appearance of bias, as well as lending prestige of the judicial office. 

NEWS RELEASE  |  July 19, 2023

Ethics Committee Adopts Opinion about Court Invitations to Outside Speakers

Final opinion follows public comment and provides guidance for judges on ethical considerations when inviting outside speakers and groups to give educational presentations to the court.

FORMAL OPINION  |  July 19, 2023

CJEO Formal Opinion 2023-023: Guidelines for Hosting Educational Presentations by Outside Speakers and Groups

New formal opinion discusses factors judges should consider when inviting, or using court resources to host, outside educational speakers, and groups.

NEWS RELEASE  |  July 13, 2023

Ethics Committee Advice for Justices whose Staff Attorneys Had Prior Involvement in a Matter

Committee says justices should disqualify staff attorneys from working on appellate matters if the attorney’s prior service as a lawyer in the proceeding would disqualify a justice who had served in such a capacity.

EXPEDITED OPINION  |  July 13, 2023

CJEO Expedited Opinion 2023-050: Judicial Obligations for Prior Service by an Appellate Staff Attorney in a Pending Matter

New expedited opinion advises appellate justices have an obligation under the California Code of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Ethics for the Court Employees of California to disqualify a staff attorney from working on any part of an appellate matter in which the staff attorney’s prior service as a lawyer in the proceeding would have been disqualifying for the justice had the justice served in such a capacity.

NEWS RELEASE  |  May 25, 2023

For Public Comment: Attending Law Firm Celebrations

The California Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions (CJEO) invites public comment on a draft formal opinion addressing whether a judicial officer may attend a celebration hosted by a law firm.

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  May 25, 2023

Invitation to Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2023-024: Accepting Invitations to Law Firm Celebrations

Deadline to submit public comments is July 10, 2023.

NEWS RELEASE  |  April 24, 2023

Ethics Committee Adopts Opinion About Presiding Judge Communications

Following public comment period, final opinion provides guidance for presiding judges on sending courtwide emails to judges and staff.

FORMAL OPINION  |  April 24, 2023

CJEO Formal Opinion 2023-022: Guidelines for Presiding Judges when Transmitting Courtwide Communications to Colleagues

New formal opinion discusses factors presiding judges should consider when sending courtwide emails at the request of outside entities, such as other governmental agencies, private interest groups, or bar associations.

NEWS RELEASE  |  April 13, 2023

For Public Comment: Inviting Outside Speakers to the Court

The California Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions (CJEO) invites public comment on a draft formal opinion outlining what judges should consider when inviting outside speakers and groups to give educational presentations.

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  April 13, 2023

Invitation to Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2023-023: Guidelines for Hosting Educational Presentations by Outside Speakers and Groups

Deadline to submit public comments is May 29, 2023.

NEWS RELEASE  |  March 30, 2023

Supreme Court Appoints New Member to Ethics Committee

Los Angeles County Judge Michelle Williams Court will join the committee starting April 1.

NEWS RELEASE  |  February 7, 2023

For Public Comment: Presiding Judge Communications

The California Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions (CJEO) invites public comment on a draft formal opinion about whether a presiding judge may send a courtwide communication at the request of an outside entity, such as another government agency, a private interest group, or bar association.

INVITATION TO COMMENT  |  February 7, 2023

Invitation to Comment on CJEO Draft Formal Opinion 2023-022: Guidelines for Presiding Judges when Transmitting Courtwide Communications to Colleagues

Deadline for public comment is March 23.

NEWS RELEASE  |  January 20, 2023

Ethics Committee Adopts Opinion about Disqualification for Prior Judicial Involvement in Criminal Trial Proceedings

Following public comment, final opinion provides guidance for judges issuing bench warrants or presiding over change of plea hearings.

FORMAL OPINION  |  January 20, 2023

CJEO Formal Opinion 2023-021: Disqualification Obligations of a Trial Judge Based on Prior Judicial Involvement in Criminal Trial Court Proceedings

New formal opinion concludes that judges who issue a bench warrant for a failure to appear or who preside over a change of plea hearing are not required to disqualify from subsequent proceedings involving those matters.