NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Evaluation of the Model Code of Judicial Conduct

[SLYarnell]

Attached please find a Notice of Public Hearing relative to the Joint
Commission to Evaluate the Model Code of Judicial Conduct's upcoming
roundtable discussion in Naples, FL. Thank you.

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Maggie

Maggie J. Viertel
Editorial/Legal Assistant
ABA Center for Professional Responsibility
Ethics Department
321 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 988-5326
(312) 988-5491
[email protected]

Visit us on the web at //www.abanet.org/cpr/prconf.html
 for details about the ABA 30th National
Conference on Professional Responsibility and 20th National Forum on Client
Protection, June 2 - 5, 2004, Naples, Florida.

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

From Mark I. Harrison, Chair, ABA Joint Commission on Evaluation of the Model

Code of Judicial Conduct

The ABA Joint Commission on Evaluation of the Model Code of Judicial Conduct will hold the fifth in a series of public hearings to obtain comments and suggestions relating to the present Code on Friday, 4, 2004 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

This hearing will take place Friday, June 4, 2004 in conjunction with the ABA National Conference on Professional Responsibility at The Registry Resort, located at 475 Seagate Drive, Naples, Florida 34103. The phone number is 800-247-9810. Individuals or organizations interested in appearing at this hearing to provide the Commission with their views on the present Code and/or suggestions for its improvement are invited to contact Commission Counsel Eileen Gallagher at or (312) 988-5105 no later than May 28, 2004. This will allow time to schedule all persons interested in appearing on June 4.

An electronic version of your proposed comments should be submitted by May 28, 2004. Where possible, please identify the provisions of the current Judicial Code being addressed. If you intend to recommend that the provisions be changed, please provide language that you believe would accomplish your intended purpose. (Written submissions may also be submitted in lieu of oral testimony.) All information may be sent by May 28 to Ms. Gallagher, via e-mail or in hard copy to the ABA Justice Center, located at 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 606l0. E-mail transmissions are greatly preferred.

An attempt will be made to accommodate all appearance requests. However, preference will be given to parties for whom geographic concerns make it imperative that they appear at the Naples hearing; other individuals or entities may wish to schedule appearances at hearings that will be held elsewhere at a later date. According to the Commission's current schedule, an additional hearing will be held at the ABA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA on August 6.

During this hearing in Naples, the Joint Commission will begin examining issues that have already been brought to its attention, including but not limited to the following:

· Could the format and organization of the Code be improved?

· How should the concept of "appearance of impropriety" be addressed in the Code?

· Are Code changes needed to accommodate the increase in "pro se" representation?

· What types of statements should judges be permitted to make, especially as judicial candidates, during or independent of campaigning for office?

· What significance should attach to the statements, affiliations or interests of members of a judge's family, and to which members?

· Should judges assigned to "family," "drug," or other "restorative justice" or "problem-solving" courts be authorized to participate as members of or interact with a wider range of community organizations?

· Are the limitations on judges' involvement with civic, charitable, educational, and other organizations appropriate and necessary?