Past News Releases: 2021 - 2025
2025
November 21, 2025
Invitation to Comment: Disclosure and Disqualification Considerations Regarding Former Judicial Mentees in the California Judicial Mentor Program
Deadline to comment is Jan. 5.
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.
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.
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.
May 27, 2025
Invitation to Comment: Disqualification and Disclosure Requirements Under the Racial Justice Act
Deadline to comment is July 11.
May 7, 2025
Invitation to Comment: Participation in Inns of Court
Deadline to comment is June 23.
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.
2024
November 27, 2024
Supreme Court Makes Appointments to Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions
The California Supreme Court today announced 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).
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.
August 5, 2024
For Public Comment: Judicial Response to Public Criticism of a Pending Case
Deadline to comment is Sept. 20, 2024.
July 29, 2024
For Public Comment: Judges Participating in School Fundraising
Deadline to comment is Sept. 13, 2024.
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.
2023
December 4, 2023
For Public Comment: Judicial Response to Attorney Misconduct
Deadline to comment is Jan. 19, 2024.
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.
October 19, 2023
Supreme Court Appoints Members to Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions
The California Supreme Court announced the reappointment of three current members on the Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
February 7, 2023
For Public Comment: Presiding Judge Communications
Deadline for public comment is March 23.
January 20, 2023
Following public comment, final opinion provides guidance for judges issuing bench warrants or presiding over change of plea hearings
2022
November 16, 2022
Ethics Committee Adopts Opinion about Judges Consulting with Colleagues
Final opinion follows public comment and provides guidance for judges when consulting with other judges
November 8, 2022
Public Comment: Disqualification for Prior Judicial Involvement in Criminal Trial Proceedings
Deadline to comment is Dec. 22.
October 24, 2022
Supreme Court Names Appointments to Ethics Committee, State Bar Committee of Bar Examiners
The California Supreme Court has named members to its Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions and to the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners.
October 20, 2022
Ethics Committee Advice on Requests for a Judge’s Declaration in a Habeas Matter
Supreme Court ethics committee issues guidance for judges who previously represented the criminal defendant
September 8, 2022
Public Comment: Judges Consulting with Colleagues on a Case
Deadline to comment is Oct. 24.
September 2, 2022
Supreme Court ethics committee issues guidance for judges about coaching youth sports teams that include children of attorneys who appear before the court.
June 17, 2022
Deadline to comment is August 1.
May 19, 2022
Ethics Committee Issues Advice about Book Reviews and Endorsements by Judges
Supreme Court ethics committee issues guidance for judges about commenting on or endorsing legal education books written by others.
May 11, 2022
Supreme Court ethics committee issues guidance to retired judges who are privately retained about fundraising activities.
February 2, 2022
Ethics Committee Issues Advice about Disqualification When a Judge’s Spouse May be a Trial Witness
Supreme Court ethics committee issues guidance for judges about the timing of disqualification when a judge’s spouse may be called as a witness at trial.
January 4, 2022
Ethics Committee Issues Disqualification Advice to Judges in Mentor Program
Supreme Court ethics committee issues expedited guidance for judges in the California Judicial Mentor Program about disqualifying from cases involving mentees.