Opinion Links
Court Operations
- Formal Opinion 2022-020 (Judicial Consultations with Other Judges)
- Formal Opinion 2021-016 (Independent Investigation of Information Contained in Electronic Court CMSs)
- Formal Opinion 2020-015 (Supervising Judge’s Duties When a Party Complains About a Judge in a Pending Matter)
- Formal Opinion 2017-009 (Judges Meeting with Vendors)
- Formal Opinion 2014-004 (Judicial Screening of Ex Parte Applications for Non-Domestic-Violence Emergency Family Law Orders)
- Formal Opinion 2013-002 (Disclosure on the Record When There Is No Court Reporter or Electronic Record of the Proceedings)
- Formal Opinion 2013-001 (Requesting Assistance from Attorneys)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2016-015 (Full Bench Disqualification)
Court Staff
- Expedited Opinion 2021-039 (Gift Exchanges Between Judges and Their Staff)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2018-024 (Reporting Misconduct by a Superior Court Research Attorney in a Pending Matter)
Elections/Political Activities
- Formal Opinion 2016-008 (Attending Political Fundraising or Endorsement Events)
- Formal Opinion 2013-003 (Disqualification Based on Judicial Campaign Contributions from a Lawyer in the Proceeding)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2018-026 (Soliciting Endorsements from Trial Court Judges for Other Appellate Court Justices Subject to Retention Elections)
Extrajudicial Activities
- Formal Opinion 2020-014 (Judicial Participation in Public Demonstrations and Rallies)
- Formal Opinion 2018-012 (Providing Educational Presentations at Specialty Bar Events)
- Formal Opinion 2017-011 (Judicial Service on a Nonprofit Charter School Board)
- Formal Opinion 2017-010 (Extrajudicial Involvement in Marijuana Enterprises)
- Formal Opinion 2015-007 (Disqualification for Prior Appearance as a Deputy District Attorney in a Nonsubstantive Matter)
- Formal Opinion 2014-006 (Judicial Comment at Public Hearings and Consultation with Public Officials and Other Branches of Government)
- Informal Opinion Summary 2014-004 (Judicial Appearance in an Educational Documentary)
- Expedited Opinion 2022-048 (Commenting on or Endorsing Legal Education Books Written by Others)
- Expedited Opinion 2021-044 (Disqualification for Civics Education Activities in Matters Involving School District Mask and Vaccine Mandates)
- Expedited Opinion 2021-043 (Service on the California Access to Justice Commission or Child Welfare Council)
- Expedited Opinion 2021-041 (Service on a Governmental Task Force)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2020-033 (Party Reimbursement of Judicial Expenses)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2019-031 (Extrajudicial Service as a Rotary District Youth Protection Officer)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2019-030 (Acceptance of a Private Testimonial Dinner and Honors)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2019-027 (Service on a Nonprofit Advisory Board Involved in Criminal Justice Issues)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2017-020 (Judicial Service on a Nonprofit Credit Union Advisory Council)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2015-014 (Judicial Membership in a Church-Sponsored Boy Scouts of America Troop)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2015-013 (Judicial Membership in a Boy Scouts of America-Sponsored Eagle Scout Alumni Group)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2014-006 (Disqualification for Membership in a Specialty Women’s Bar Association)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2014-004 (Use of a Testimonial Letter to Promote a National Bar Association Program)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2013-002 (Attending a Private Foundation Meeting to Speak About National and State Civics Education Work)
Family Member Activities
- Informal Opinion Summary 2018-005 (Disqualification for Spouse’s Political Campaign Services)
- Informal Opinion Summary 2012-002 (Assignment and Disqualification of a Judge When Counsel for a Party Is the Landlord of the Law Firm That Employs the Judge's Spouse)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2013-001 (Disclosure When a Judge's Spouse Serves on a City Commission)
Fundraising
- Formal Opinion 2016-008 (Attending Political Fundraising or Endorsement Events)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2015-011 (Use of Judicial Title on a Scholarship Fund)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2014-009 (Prohibition on Fundraising While a Subordinate Judicial Officer)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2013-003 (Fundraising Among Judges for a Civics Education Project of a Nonprofit National Legal Association)
Gifts
- Formal Opinion 2014-005 (Accepting Gifts of Little or Nominal Value Under the Ordinary Social Hospitality Exception)
- Expedited Opinion 2021-039 (Gift Exchanges Between Judges and Their Staff)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2019-030 (Acceptance of a Private Testimonial Dinner and Honors)
Opinions Specifically Sought by Presiding or Supervising Judges
- Formal Opinion 2020-015 (Supervising Judge’s Duties When a Party Complains About a Judge in a Pending Matter)
- Formal Opinion 2017-009 (Judges Meeting with Vendors)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2016-015 (Full Bench Disqualification)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2014-006 (Disqualification for Membership in a Specialty Women's Bar Association)
Public Health Emergencies
- Expedited Opinion 2021-044 (Disqualification for Civics Education Activities in Matters Involving School District Mask and Vaccine Mandates)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2020-034 (Judges Working Remotely After Court Reopening During the COVID-19 Pandemic)
- Expedited Opinion (formerly Oral Advice Summary) 2020-032 (Judicial Obligations Regarding Witness Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic)
Social Media
- Expedited Opinion 2021-042 (Social Media Posts About the Law, the Legal System, or the Administration of Justice)