Opinion  CJE Opinion No. 96-2

Date:	06/12/1996
Organization:	Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

After the Committee on Judicial Ethics issued this opinion, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court adopted a revised Code of Judicial Conduct. Because this opinion was rendered under a prior version of the Code, a judge should not rely on it without contacting the Committee on Judicial Ethics.

Serving on Board of Directors of Legal Services Organization

You have requested the advice of this Committee on whether you may continue to serve on the board of directors of a private nonprofit corporation which, according to its Articles of Merger, exists:

1. to provide legal representation and assistance to financially disadvantaged people;
2. to procure legal aid and promote measures for the protection of financially disadvantaged people;
3. to perform related legal research and investigation; and
4. to promote the education of financially disadvantaged people concerning legal rights and responsibilities.

The Committee responded to a similar question in CJE Advisory Opinion 89-2, a copy of which is enclosed for your review. For the reasons stated in that opinion, the Committee has concluded you should not serve on the board of directors of the legal service organization in question.