Commission Rule 28.A authorizes “[t]he Director and any other staff member designated by the Director to render . . . a Director’s Opinion concerning his or her interpretation of the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct as applied to a given state of facts.” A Director’s Opinion is merely the Director’s personal interpretation of the Code as applied to the facts of a given inquiry. It is not binding on the requestor, the Investigative Panel, the Hearing Panel, or the Supreme Court.  Director’s Opinions are intended to provide assistance in interpreting and applying the Code. Compliance with a Director’s Opinion is not a defense to any complaint, although reliance on a Director’s Opinion would be considered in mitigation of discipline. Director’s Opinions generally apply to specific situations only and do not establish a general standard.