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Table of Canons and Rules Cited in Opinions

Massachusetts Code of Judicial Conduct, effective January 1, 2016.

Table of Contents

Overview

This table includes the formal Letter Opinions issued by the Committee on Judicial Ethics that deal with the provisions of the new Code of Judicial Conduct, effective January 1, 2016.   

Similar tables dealing with the Code of Judicial Conduct as it existed prior to October 1, 2003; and the Code of Judicial Conduct, as it existed from October 1, 2003, until December 31, 2015, are located with the Judicial Ethics Educational and Historical Information. Adoption of the new Code may have rendered certain opinions decided under the Code as it existed prior to January 1, 2016, no longer valid or appropriate.

Table of canons and rules cited in opinions

Canon/Rule     

Letter Opinion

Preamble    

(16-1), (17-1), (16-9)(21-1), (23-1), (23-2), (23-3)

Scope    

 

Terminology 

(16-7), (17-5)(21-1), (23-1)

Application

 

Application (I)(A)

 

Application (I)(B)

(16-3), (16-5)

Application (II)

 

Canon 1                    

 

Compliance with the Law

 

Rule 1.1                                     

 

Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary

 

Rule 1.2                       

(16-1), (16-6), (16-9), (17-1), (17-3), (18-2), (21-1),(21-2), (23-1), (23-2), (23-3)

Avoiding Abuse of the Prestige of Judicial Office

 

Rule 1.3            

(16-1), (16-2), (16-9), (16-13), (17-2), (17-4)(21-2)

Canon 2                          

 

Giving Precedence to the Duties of Judicial Office

 

Rule 2.1                           

(21-2)

Impartiality and Fairness

 

Rule 2.2                   

(16-9)

Bias, Prejudice, and Harassment

 

Rule 2.3

(16-1)

Rule 2.3(A)                             

(16-1), (16-9)

Rule 2.3(B)                   

 

Rule 2.3(C)

 

Rule 2.3(D)    

 

External Influences on Judicial Conduct 

 

Rule 2.4

(16-1), (21-1)(21-2)

Rule 2.4(A)    

 

Rule 2.4(B)                              

(16-1), (16-9), (21-1)

Rule 2.4(C)

(16-1), (16-9), (21-1), (23-1), (23-2), (23-3)

Competence, Diligence, and Cooperation

 

Rule 2.5(A)                              

 

Rule 2.5(B)        

 

Ensuring the Right to be Heard

Rule 2.6(A)

 

Rule 2.6(B)             

 

Responsibility to Decide

 

Rule 2.7 

 

Decorum, Demeanor, and Communication with Jurors

 

Rule 2.8(A)

 

Rule 2.8(B)

 

Rule 2.8(C)

 

Ex-Parte Communications

 

Rule 2.9

(16-1)

Rule 2.9(A)

(16-1), (16-9)

Rule 2.9(A)(1)

 

Rule 2.9(A)(1)(a) 

 

Rule 2.9(A)(1)(b)

 

Rule 2.9(A)(2)

 

Rule 2.9(A)(3) 

 

Rule 2.9(A)(3)(a)   

 

Rule 2.9(A)(3)(b)

 

Rule 2.9(A)(3)(c) 

 

Rule 2.9(A)(3)(d)              

 

Rule 2.9(A)(4) 

Rule 2.9(A)(5)   

 

Rule 2.9(B)

 

Rule 2.9(C)  

Rule 2.9(D) 

 

Judicial Statements on Pending and Impending Cases

 

Rule 2.10

(16-1), (16-3), (17-1)(21-2)

Rule 2.10(A)  

(16-1), (16-4), (16-9), (17-1)

Rule 2.10(B)

(16-1), (16-9)

Rule 2.10(C)

(16-4)

Rule 2.10(D)  

 

Rule 2.10(E)  

 

Rule 2.10(F) 

Disqualification

 

Rule 2.11

(16-1), (16-8), (16-11), (16-12), (17-5), (18-3), (18-4)(21-2), (23-1), 
(23-2), (23-3)

Rule 2.11(A) 

(16-1), (16-9), (16-11), (18-3), (18-4), (23-1), (23-2), (23-3)

Rule 2.11(A)(1)

(16-1), (16-8)(18-3), (23-1), (23-2), (23-3)

Rule 2.11(A)(2)(a)

(16-12), (23-1)

Rule 2.11(A)(2)(b)

(16-11), (23-1)

Rule 2.11(A)(2)(c)

(16-12), (23-1)

Rule 2.11(A)(2)(d)

(23-1)

Rule 2.11(A)(3)

(17-5), (23-1)

Rule 2.11(A)(4)

 

Rule 2.11(A)(5)(a)

 

Rule 2.11(A)(5)(b)

 

Rule 2.11(A)(5)(c)

 

Rule 2.11(A)(5)(d)

 

Rule 2.11(B) 

 

Rule 2.11(C) 

(16-11), (18-4), (23-1), (23-2), (23-3)

Supervisory Duties

 

Rule 2.12(A) 

 

Rule 2.12(B) 

 

Administrative Appointments

Rule 2.13 (A)

(16-5)

Rule 2.13(A)(1) 

 

Rule 2.13(A)(2) 

 

Rule 2.13(B)            

 

Disability and Impairment

 

Rule 2.14  

 

Responding to Judicial and Lawyer Misconduct

 

Rule 2.15(A)  

(21-1)

Rule 2.15(B)

 

Rule 2.15(C) 

(21-1)

Rule 2.15(D)

 

Cooperation with Disciplinary Authorities

Rule 2.16(A)         

 

Rule 2.16(B)  

 

Canon 3                   

 

Extrajudicial Activities in General

Rule 3.1 

(16-1), (16-2), (16-6), (16-9), (17-1), (17-3), (17-4), (18-2), (21-1)(21-2)

Rule 3.1(A)   

(16-1), (16-2), (16-9), (17-4)

Rule 3.1(B)              

(16-2), (17-4)

Rule 3.1(C)             

(16-2), (17-4)

Rule 3.1(D)         

(17-4)

Rule 3.1(E)             

(18-2)

Appearances before Governmental Bodies and Consultation with Government Officials

 

Rule 3.2(A)    

 

Rule 3.2(B)    

 

Testifying as a Character Witness

 

Rule 3.3         

(16-13)

Appointments to Governmental Positions

 

Rule 3.4            

Use of Nonpublic Information

 

Rule 3.5              

(21-2)

Affiliation with Discriminatory Organizations

 

Rule 3.6(A)                

 

Rule 3.6(B)           

 

Participation in Legal, Educational, Religious, Charitable, Fraternal or Civic Organizations and Activities

 

Rule 3.7

(17-1), (17-3), (17-4), (18-1)(21-2)

Rule 3.7(A)                

(18-1)

Rule 3.7(A)(1)           

 

Rule 3.7(A)(2)            

 

Rule 3.7(A)(3)

(16-2)

Rule 3.7(A)(4)         

(16-1), (16-2), (16-4)

Rule 3.7(A)(5)           

(16-2), (17-3)

Rule 3.7(A)(5)(a)        

 

Rule 3.7(A)(5)(b)       

 

Rule 3.7(A)(6)   

(16-6)

Rule 3.7(A)(6A)

(17-4)

Rule 3.7(A)(7)       

 

Rule 3.7(B)               

 

Rule 3.7(C)            

(16-2)

Appointments to Fiduciary Positions

 

Rule 3.8(A)            

(16-7)

Rule 3.8(B)         

(16-7)

Rule 3.8(C)             

 

Rule 3.8(D)             

 

Service as Arbitrator or Mediator

 

Rule 3.9             

 

Practice of Law

 

Rule 3.10               

(16-1), (16-7), (16-9), (18-2)

Rule 3.10(A)                 

(16-1)

Rule 3.10(B)             

 

Financial, Business, or Remunerative Activities

 

Rule 3.11(A)        

(17-4)

Rule 3.11(B)       

(16-4), (17-4), (18-1)(21-2)

Rule 3.11(C)         

(16-4), (18-1)

Rule 3.11(C)(1)            

 

Rule 3.11(C)(2)        

 

Rule 3.11(C)(3)         

 

Rule 3.11(C)(4)        

 

Compensation for Extrajudicial Activities

 

Rule 3.12                              

(16-4), (17-4), (18-1)(21-2)

Acceptance and Reporting of Gifts, Loans, Bequests, Benefits, or Other Things of Value

 

Rule 3.13(A)          

 

Rule 3.13(B)     

 

Rule 3.13(B)(1)     

(17-4)

Rule 3.13(B)(2)      

 

Rule 3.13(B)(3)      

 

Rule 3.13(B)(4)       

 

Rule 3.13(B)(5)          

 

Rule 3.13(B)(6)          

 

Rule 3.13(B)(7)             

 

Rule 3.13(B)(8)          

 

Rule 3.13(C)         

Rule 3.13(D)           

 

Rule 3.13(D)(1)        

 

Rule 3.13(D)(2)              

 

Rule 3.13(D)(3)     

 

Rule 3.13(D)(4)         

 

Rule 3.13(E)            

 

Rule 3.13(E)(1)       

 

Rule 3.13(E)(2)           

 

Reimbursement of Expenses and Waivers of Fees or Changes

 

Rule 3.14(A)                   

 

Rule 3.14(B)           

 

Rule 3.14(C)         

 

Reporting Requirements

Rule 3.15(A)              

(21-2)

Rule 3.15(B)        

(16-4)

Canon 4                       

 

Political and Campaign Activities

 

Rule 4.1

(16-1). (17-4), (21-1)(21-2)

Rule 4.1(A)                

(16-1), (16-9), (16-10), (21-1)

Rule 4.1(A)(1)          

 

Rule 4.1(A)(2)                  

 

Rule 4.1(A)(3)           

 

Rule 4.1(A)(4)          

 

Rule 4.1(A)(5)         

(16-10)

Rule 4.1(B)            

(16-10)

Rule 4.1(C)                           

 

Activities of Judges who Become Candidates for Nonjudicial Office

 

Rule 4.2(A)                         

 

Rule 4.2(B)                 

 

Contact   for Table of Canons and Rules Cited in Opinions

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