Summary: It is inappropriate for a Judge pro tem of a Municipal Court to also serve as an instructor in a state certified driver improvement clinic, because of the potential conflict of interest. Issued: April 22, 1988

Summary: It is improper for a judge to serve on the advisory panel of an organization known as "End Violence Now", because judges should not become associated as activists with particular causes. Attendance by a judge at an educational seminar for prosecuting attorneys or for defense attorneys wo...

Summary: NOTE: O.C.G.A.15-10-2 permits part-time lawyer magistratesto practice law in cases originating from their courts, unless they personally exercised judicial power in the matter. An Assistant Magistrate is disqualified to preside over the trial of a defendant whose attorney is the brother of...

Summary: The fact that a defendant-violator has been represented by the judge or the judge's law firm at some time in the past is not per se grounds for disqualification, but, if the judge in fact has any personal bias or prejudice, judicial disqualification would be in order. Issued: June 24, 1988...

Summary: It is not improper for a Pro Tempore Judge of a City Recorders Court, while acting as attorney for a divorce client seeking past due child support, to garnish the wages of a city employee with the City named as the garnishee. Issued: June 24, 1988

Summary: Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers, who hear and decide contested cases for State and Local Executive Branch Agencies, are subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct. Issued: June 24, 1988

Summary: It is inappropriate for a judge to participate in a "Board of Ethics" with the duty of hearing complaints involving violations of an ethics code and making investigations and recommendations with respect to matters which may ultimately come before the judge. Issued: July 22, 1988

Summary: There is no legal or ethical problem with the appointment of an attorney who holds and retains a state bar office, such as president or secretary, to a judicial position, such as State or Superior Court Judge. Issued: August 31, 1988

Summary: An Associate Magistrate is not disqualified to serve as a client's attorney merely because the opposite party has filed numerous civil actions in the Magistrate Court where the judge presides. Issued: August 31, 1988

Summary: A judge is not automatically required to disqualify in a case because the judge's spouse is employed as a secretary by a firm which represents one of the parties, but the judge should recuse if the circumstances are such that judicial impartiality "might reasonably be questioned". Issued: ...

Summary: If the terms are reasonable and fair, a newly appointed judge, who upon withdrawing from a law firm under arrangements involving certain guaranteed payments plus a percentage of fees generated in certain contingent cases, would not be required to disqualify. However, if the judge entertains...

Summary: It is appropriate for a convicted drunk driver to be required to meet for stated periods with a panel of victims of drunk drivers, provided such appearances are properly supervised, and it is equally appropriate for the judge to establish and administer such a panel, provided that doing so ...

Summary: After a judge has been listed along with other Council leaders in a letter inviting numerous people to attend a breakfast meeting, the purpose of which was to solicit contributions to the Boy Scouts which followed closely on a request for assistance by way of time and money in meeting a goa...

Summary: In view of the decision in Hudson vs. State, 250 Ga. 479, the Commission declined to adopt a per se rule which would render it inappropriate for a part-time judge of the Recorder's Court to represent a criminal defendant in the State or Superior Court even after the case had appeared on the...

Summary: A judge is not per se required to recuse because an attorney, who has filed a lawsuit against the judge, appears as counsel of record, unless the judge is, in fact, prejudiced against the lawyer or, under all the circumstances, judicial impartiality might reasonably be questioned, in which...

Summary: The fact that a judge's former law clerk is counsel for one of the parties before the court is not a per se ground for disqualification. Issued: September 22, 1989

Summary: A part-time judge should not at the same time serve as an assistant district attorney. Issued: September 22, 1989

Summary: It is appropriate for a judge to serve as a member of an endorsement committee for an organization to be known as "Christians for a Drug-free Atlanta" provided the judge's name is not used in connection with the solicitation of funds for the organization. Issued: September 22, 1989

Summary: It is permissible for an administrative law judge to serve on the board of directors of Christian Heritage School, Inc., a non-profit tax exempt educational organization which maintains a Christian school, provided this judge does not directly or indirectly participate in the solicitation o...

Summary: The Code of Judicial Conduct requires a judge to disqualify in a proceeding in which the judge's stepson, or a member of the stepson's law firm, is representing one of the parties. Issued: October 15, 1989