030220 SCJEO, JUD 4-2020

• Case Date: March 02, 2020
• Court: South Carolina

JUD 4-2020 Opinion No. 4-2020 South Carolina Judicial Ethics Opinion Advisory Committee on Standards of Judicial Conduct March 2, 2020           LETITIA H. VERDIN, CHAIR.          RE: Propriety of a magistrate judge accepting an invitation to serve on a county-wide Veterans Council.          FACTS          A magistrate judge,^[1] who is also a veteran, has inquired about accepting an invitation to serve on a county-wide Veterans Council. The primary goal of the Council is to assist military members, veterans, and family members by increasing access to resources and services. The Council intends to identify and access the services currently in place and the groups that currently support veterans and determine how to fill in the gaps.          CONCLUSION          A full-time magistrate may serve on a county-wide Veterans Council.          OPINION          Canon 4C(3) states that a judge may serves as an “officer, director, trustee, or non-legal advisor of….an educational, religious, charitable, fraternal or civic organization not conducted for profit” provided that the judge follows the other limitations of the Code. Rule 501, SCACR. For example, a judge should not serve as an officer or advisor of an organization that is likely to be engaged in proceedings that come before the court. 4C(3)(a). In addition, a judge generally is not permitted to actively engage in fund-raising on behalf of the organization, though the judge may participate in other ways. Canon 4C(3)(b)(i). ...