28. PARTISAN POLITICS

While entitled to entertain his personal views of political questions, and while not required to surrender his rights or opinions as a citizen, it is inevitable that suspicion of being warped by political bias will attach to a judge who becomes the active promoter of the interests of one political party as against another. He should avoid making political speeches, making or soliciting payment of assessments or contributions to party funds, the public endorsement of candidates for political office and participation in party conventions.

29. SELF-INTEREST

He should abstain from performing or taking part in any judicial act in which his personal interests are involved. If he has personal litigation in the court of which he is judge, he need not resign his judgeship on that account, but he should, of course, refrain from any judicial act in such a controversy.

30. CANDIDACY FOR OFFICE

A candidate for judicial position should not, make or suffer others to make for him, promises of conduct in office which appeal to the cupidity or prejudices of the appointing or electing power; he should not announce in advance his conclusions of law on disputed issues to secure class support, and he should do nothing while a candidate to create the impression that if chosen, he will administer his office with bias, partiality or improper discrimination.

While holding judicial office he should decline nomination to any other place which might reasonably tend to create a suspicion or criticism that the proper performance of his judicial duties is prejudiced or prevented thereby.

If a judge becomes a candidate for any office, he should refrain from all conduct which might tend to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is using the power or prestige of his judicial position to promote his candidacy or the success of his party.

He should not permit others to do anything in behalf of his candidacy which would reasonably lead to such suspicion. 31. PRIVATE LAW PRACTICE

In many states the practice of law by one holding judicial position is forbidden. In superior courts of general jurisdiction, it should never be permitted. In inferior courts in some states, it is permitted because the county or municipality is not able to pay adequate living compensation for a competent judge. In such cases one who practises law is in a position of great delicacy

and must be scrupulously careful to avoid conduct in his practice whereby he utilizes or seems to utilize his judicial position to further his professional success.

He should not practise in the court in which he is a judge, even when presided over by another judge, or appear therein for himself in any controversy.

If forbidden to practise law, he should refrain from accepting any professional employment while in office.

He may properly act as arbitrator or lecture upon or instruct in law, or write upon the subject, and accept compensation therefor, if such course does not interfere with the due performance of his judicial duties, and is not forbidden by some positive provision of law.

32. GIFTS AND FAVORS

He should not accept any presents or favors from litigants, or from lawyers practising before him or from others whose interests are likely to be submitted to him for judgment. 33. SOCIAL RELATIONS

It is not necessary to the proper performance of judicial duty that a judge should live in retirement or seclusion; it is desirable that, so far as reasonable attention to the completion of his work will permit, he continue to mingle in social intercourse, and that he should not discontinue his interest in or appearance at meetings of members of the Bar. He should, however, in pending or prospective litigation before him be particularly careful to avoid such action as may reasonably tend to awaken the suspicion that his social or business relations or friendships, constitute an element in influencing his judicial conduct.

34. A SUMMARY OF JUDICIAL OBLIGATION

In every particular his conduct should be above reproach. He should be conscientious, studious, thorough, courteous, patient, punctual, just, impartial, fearless of public clamor, regardless of public praise, and indifferent to private, political or partisan influences; he should administer justice according to law, and deal with his appointments as a public trust; he should not allow other affairs or his private interests to interfere with the prompt and proper performance of his judicial duties, nor should he administer the office for the purpose of advancing his personal ambitions or increasing his popularity.

SPECIAL JUSTICES ASSOCIATION OF

MASSACHUSETTS

Adopted Dec. 15, 1923:

CANONS OF JUDICIAL ETHICS

The Association adopts the following canons, the spirit of which it suggests as a proper guide and reminder for Special Justices, and as indicating what the people have a right to expect of them.

1. General Obligations

The obligations of duty and conduct which bind all Standing Justices presiding in the courts of the Commonwealth, apply with equal force to all Special Justices.

2. Essential Conduct

A Special Justice, therefore, should always serve the public interest. He should be temperate, attentive, patient, impartial, diligent in ascertaining the facts, and careful to apply the principles of the law thereto. He should be firm, but not arbitrary or controversial, in the execution of his duty. He should be considerate of counsel, of witnesses, of litigants and of all others in attendance upon the courts. He should be prompt himself and insist upon promptness in others, realizing that their time, as well as that of the court, is valuable.

3. Participation in Trials

He may properly intervene in a trial held before him to promote expedition and prevent unnecessary waste of time or to clear up some obscurity, bearing in mind, however, that undue. interference, impatience or a severe attitude toward counsel, witnesses or litigants may tend to prevent the proper presentation of the cause or the ascertainment of the truth in respect thereto.

4. Ex parte Communications

He should not permit private interviews, arguments or communications calculated to influence his judicial action, except in cases where provision is made by law for ex parte application.

5. Continuances

A Special Justice should insist upon diligence in the dispatch of business before the court by refusing to grant continuances of cases except for good cause shown.

6. Uniformity of Practice

A Special Justice should co-operate with other justices to promote satisfactory administration of justice. In imposing sentence he should endeavor to conform to a reasonable standard of punishment and should not seek popularity or publicity either by exceptional severity or undue leniency.

7. Private Practice

A Special Justice, by reason of his small compensation and infrequent and uncertain service, is not expected to refrain from the practice of his profession, but his position is one of great delicacy and he should be scrupulously careful to avoid conduct in his practice whereby he utilizes or seems to utilize his judicial position to further his professional success.

8. A Summary of Judicial Obligation

In every particular his conduct should be above reproach. He should be conscientious, studious, thorough, courteous, patient, punctual, just, impartial, fearless of public clamor, regardless of public praise, and should administer justice according to law.

LEATHER

NATIONAL LEATHER AND SHOE FINDERS
ASSOCIATION

Adopted June 1923:

A SHOE FINDERS' CODE OF ETHICS

1. That just because he has opened a store, is no reason why the community owes him a living. Remembering that he went into business voluntarily, he must do his duty by assuming his share of his community's obligations.

2. He must justify his right to live in his community by rendering that community service, based on the highest standard of truth and honor in every transaction.

3. He should take pride in the neighborhood in which he is located, should keep his store neat and orderly inside, and see that the outside appearance looks as well, at least, or better than his neighbor's.

4. He should consider his business an honorable occupation and realize that it affords him a distinct opportunity to serve society.

5. He should assist all movements for public betterments, also join and support local, civic and commercial associations. He should always vote at National, State and Local elections, and see that his employees do the same.

6. He must not violate the confidence of a merchant in other lines, but mingle with the others, exchange ideas and join with them in promoting all things that are for the common good. 7. If there is an organization of his craft gotten together for the good of the shoe finding Industry, he should join, and do all he can to assist in the work of improvement, bearing in mind that there is a tie which brings them together, and what is good for one is also good for the other.

8. He should be alert to utilize new and progressive ideas for the betterment of the business and willingly co-operate with others in aiding the advancement of the shoe findings industry as a whole.

9. He should patronize his fellow merchant whenever and wherever possible, that the community may prosper, and he, thereby, share in such prosperity.

10. He should never sign a contract without reading and fully understanding it, but after having done so, should stick to the agreement and deal with his associates in a manner that will