Clerks Ethics Opinions
Chronological Index of Opinions
|
Opinion |
Subject | |
| 2008-2 | Running for election to city council or school committee | |
| 2008-1 | Continuing employment as Assistant Register while running for position of Register | |
| 2007-4 | Whether Code applies to Assistant Case Manager (title changed from Assistant Register) regarding engaging in political activities such as membership in political organizations and attending fundraisers | |
| 2007-3 | Assistant Clerk has two adult children police officers in clerk's jurisdiction | |
| 2007-2 | Writing character reference letter on behalf of employee in connection with disciplinary prodeedings in a different court | |
| 2007-1 | Conflict with cases filed in Superior Court and cases that involve the city | |
| 2006-6 | Eucharist ministry for prisoners at county correctional facility | |
| 2006-5 | Conflict - married to Assistant DA and relationship by marriage to police officer in court's jurisdiction | |
| 2006-4 | Becoming trustee for charter school outside jurisdiction | |
| 2006-3 | Continuing employment as assistant clerk if candidate for position of clerk | |
| 2006-2 | Serving as reserve police officer while 1st assistant clerk | |
| 2006-1 | Attendance at mayor's inaugural ball | |
| 2005-4 | Bail setting in the evening at police station in town where clerk resides | |
| 2005-3 | Romantic relationship of clerk with attorney with active practice in same court | |
| 2005-2 | Labor negotiator for a town | |
| 2005-1 | Fundraising for not-for-profit organization | |
| 2004-4 | Attending political fundraiser | |
| 2004-3 | Lawyer spouse appearing in same jurisdiction | |
| 2004-2 | Attending Law Day dinner as guest of dean | |
| 2004-1 | Serving as executor for non-relative | |
| 2003-10 | Clerk nominee married to police sergeant in same jurisdiction | |
| 2003-9 | Volunteering for Democratic Convention | |
| 2003-8 | Serving on town Zoning Board of Appeals | |
| 2003-7 | Participation in course offered by Committee for Public Counsel Services | |
| 2003-6 | Attending testimonial dinner to honor state representative | |
| 2003-5 | Attending dinner dance for recently elected state representative | |
| 2003-4 | Resuming practice of law after retirement | |
| 2003-3 | Serving as member of school council | |
| 2003-2 | Appointment to Judicial Nominating Council | |
| 2003-1 | Attendance at governor's inauguration. | |
| 2002-2 | Appearing pro se before Zoning Board and on appeal to Superior Court, Land Court, Appeals Court or Supreme Judicial Court. | |
| 2002-1 | Attendance at political fundraiser. | |
| 2001-3 | Continuing employment as first assistant register if one becomes a candidate for register of probate in same court. | |
| 2001-2 | Serving on law enforcement advisory board providing advice regarding distribution of federal block grant money for police department. | |
| 2001-1 | Continuing in certain elected, appointed, or professional positions after being appointed to fill unexpired term of Register of Probate. | |
| 2000-8 | Continuing employment as assistant clerk if clerk becomes a candidate for register of probate in different court department in another county. | |
| 2000-7 | District Court assistant clerk serving on finance committee of home town where town is within jurisdiction of court. | |
| 2000-6 | Continuing employment as assistant clerk if one becomes a candidate for Clerk of Court; leave of absence. | |
| 2000-5 | Restrictions on political activity of District Court Clerk-Magistrate whose spouse is running for state representative. | |
| 2000-4 | Assistant clerk serving as director of bank that is not within the jurisdiction of the court. | |
| 2000-3 | Implications of candidacy for register of probate while serving as first assistant register. | |
| 2000-2 | Restrictions on political activity of District Court assistant clerk who is a candidate for clerk-magistrate of Superior Court; leave of absence, bail responsibilities. | |
| 2000-1 | Serving as master of ceremonies at mayor's inauguration | |
| 99-6 | Serving as elected member of City Council. | |
| 99-5 | Serving as Major in the Judge Advocate General's Corps., U.S. Army reserve. | |
| 99-4 | Serving on Board of Directors for consortium that is responsible for a shelter for the homeless and a shelter for battered women. | |
| 99-3 | Appointment as a Corporator for savings bank located in Massachusetts. | |
| 99-2 | Submitting letter of recommendation for defendant in rape of child case. | |
| 99-1 | Accepting unsolicited donation on behalf of children's education from memorial fund in memory of deceased husband. | |
| 98-9 | Attendance at out of state ceremony to introduce judge nominated for an Award from the Foundation for Improvement of Justice; Foundation to pay for air fare, hotel and banquet meal. | |
| Accepting funds from law firms and merchants, placing them in a non-interest bearing account in your name, and disbursing the funds to underwrite prizes for student participants in court's annual Law Day program. | ||
| Part-time employment as mediator, either self-employed or through a dispute resolution firm. | ||
| Serving as elected library trustee. | ||
| Serving as elected town meeting member. | ||
| Participation in program to orient nurses to serve on medical malpractice tribunals, receipt of travel costs and $50 honorarium. | ||
| Political activities by self and family members. | ||
| Unsolicited contribution by law firm to charity in clerk's name. | ||
| Appointment as Special Sheriff by County Sheriff. | ||
| Serving as member of Board of Directors of a County Bar Advocate Program | ||
| Testifying on Behalf of an Attorney Before the Board of Bar Overseers | ||
| Serving as unpaid member of Town Zoning Board of Appeals; Southeastern Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board; representative of Town and Secretary of Southeastern Transit Authority Pension Fund; serving as trustee of two nominee trusts; conservator an | ||
| Participation in seminar and receiving | ||
| Serving as Town Meeting member. | ||
| Providing endorsement to candidate for Register of Probate. | ||
| Acceptance of campaign contribution from Probate and Family Court litigant while running for Register of Probate. | ||
| Appointment to local Human Rights Commission. | ||
| Testifying before Governor's Council on behalf of judicial nominee. | ||
| Performing mediation or arbitration services for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. | ||
| Serving on committee to elect Register of Probate. | ||
| May spouse make political contributions from joint account; attendance at political functions as "private citizen" with or without spouse. | ||
| Serving as member of ward committee; conflict with spouse's duties as constable. | ||
| Winding up practice to assume position as Assistant Clerk Magistrate: status of name in firm name; | ||
| Junket with representative to foreign country. | ||
| Running for position of Register of Probate. | ||
| Entering practice of law after leaving office; taking leave of absence to practice law. | ||
| Court clerks being asked for assistance in the context of their jobs and the practice of law. | ||
| Running for Register of Probate without taking unpaid leave. | ||
| Attendance at private dinner with Lt. Governor. | ||
| Serving as fiduciary for long term friend. | ||
| Serving as Board Member of Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts. | ||
| Serving on local Personnel Board. | ||
| Serving as City Councilor. | ||
| Serving as Co-Chair of Annual Fund and on Board of Directors for YMCA. | ||
| Association as independent income tax preparer with CPA. | ||
| Arbitrator for American Registry of Arbitrators. | ||
| Consulting work on federal projects. | ||
| Fund-raising for alumnae association. | ||
| Taking leave of absence to campaign for position of Clerk of Courts. | ||
| Serving on executive committee and as treasurer of bar association. | ||
| Serving as a director on Board of Advisors of non-profit rehabilitation facility. | ||
| Attending political fund-raising event. | ||
| Solicitation of funds to run for position of Clerk of Courts. | ||
| Serving as town meeting member. | ||
| Engaging in for-profit mediation business. | ||
| Serving as member of city's election commission. | ||
| Serving as volunteer on the Regional Advisory Council of the ***** Partnership to Reduce Drug Abuse. | ||
| Contacting attorneys to advertise preparation of tax returns. | ||
| Unpaid, volunteer work in connection with private dispute resolution business. | ||
| Serving as member and chairman of Board of Examiners for a City. Serving as executrix for estate of non-family member. Receiving referral fees arising from causes of action brought before being sworn in as assistant clerk. | ||
| Additional, more detailed, discussion on issues raised in #92-4. | ||
| Being a stockholder, director, treasurer, clerk and receiving a salary and/or unearned income from a corporation established to provide a private court system in Massachusetts. | ||
| Involvement with sibling's campaign for position of town clerk. | ||
| Serving as President of Booster Club for a High School. | ||
| Acting as administrator of estate (for deceased ward.) | ||
| Holding of position of town meeting member. | ||
| Renting of summer home to attorneys who appear in Clerk-Magistrate's court. | ||
| Performing legal research for a law firm while on furlough or an authorized vacation. | ||
| Case evaluator for ADR project for contested divorce cases. | ||
| Reviewing of entry and sale documents for foreclosure proceedings. | ||
| Serving on board of organization that regularly files actions in Clerk-Magistrate's court. | ||
| Serving as fiduciary for college roommate; definition of "close familial relationship." | ||
| CASA Volunteer/guardian ad litem in Juvenile Court. | ||
| Acting as guardian for a non-family member. | ||
| Political activity (holding of sign for candidates). | ||
| Recusal of Clerk-Magistrates. | ||
| Membership in political committees. |