THE COURTS

Title 207—JUDICIAL CONDUCT

PART II. CONDUCT STANDARDS

[ 207 PA. CODE CH. 33 ]

Amendment of Rule 4.2 of the Code of Judicial Conduct; No. 529 Judicial Administration Doc.

[50 Pa.B. 197]
[Saturday, January 11, 2020]

Order

Per Curiam

 And Now, this 20th day of December, 2019, it is Ordered, pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, that Rule 4.2 of the Code of Judicial Conduct is amended in the following form.

 To the extent that notice of proposed rulemaking would otherwise be required by Pa.R.J.A. No. 103, the immediate promulgation of the amendments is found to be in the interests of justice and efficient administration.

 This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. No. 103(b), and the amendments herein shall be effective January 20, 2020.

Annex A

TITLE 207. JUDICIAL CONDUCT

PART II. CONDUCT STANDARDS

CHAPTER 33. CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT

Subchapter A. CANONS

Canon 4. A judge or candidate for judicial office shall not engage in political or campaign activity that is inconsistent with the independence, integrity, or impartiality of the judiciary.

Rule 4.2. Political and Campaign Activities of Judicial Candidates in Public Elections.

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 (B) A candidate for elective judicial office may, unless prohibited by law, and not earlier than immediately after the General Election in the year prior to the calendar year in which a person may become a candidate for such office:

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 (3) publicly endorse or speak on behalf of, or publicly oppose or speak in opposition to, candidates for the same judicial office for which he or she is a judicial candidate, or publicly endorse or speak on behalf of candidates for any other elective judicial office appearing on the same ballot;

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Comment

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 (5) For purposes of paragraph (B)(3), candidates are considered to be a candidate for the same judicial office if they are competing for a single judgeship or for one of several judgeships on the same court to be filled as a result of the election. Additionally, the phrase ''candidates for any other elective judicial office appearing on the same ballot'' means candidates who appear together on the paper ballot or, in the case of electronic voting terminals, appear together on the electronic ballot. In endorsing or opposing another candidate for a position on the same court, a judicial candidate must abide by the same rules governing campaign conduct and speech as apply to the candidate's own campaign.

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[Pa.B. Doc. No. 20-36. Filed for public inspection January 10, 2020, 9:00 a.m.]

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