New ethics rules for US judges
Publish date: 19 October 2004
Issue Number: 1198
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: Corruption
The American Bar Association is drawing up new ethics rules for judges that propose they should not accept any gifts, including travel expenses, from any person or entity whose interests are likely to come before the judge in the foreseeable future.
The Los Angeles Times reports the ABA\'s code of conduct serves as a model for judges, and it is followed by most state courts and the federal judiciary. State and federal judges who violate the code can be reprimanded by higher courts. The proposal to tighten the rules on gifts and travel grew out of news reports of judges accepting free trips to resorts for seminars sponsored by business groups and of Justice Antonin Scalia\'s duck-hunting trip with Vice President Dick Cheney. Critics said the trips cast doubt on whether the judges would be perceived as impartial. Full report in the Los Angeles Times
