Public Comment Period Open on Judicial Campaign Rules

The Administrative Board of the Courts recently approved for public comment the Proposed Part 151 of the Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts.  The proposed rules establish standards relating to the assignment and disqualification of judges where a lawyer or litigant has contributed to the judge’s campaign.

If the proposal becomes effective, judges will not be assigned to cases involving an  attorney, plaintiff or defendant who has contributed $2,500 or more to the judges’ campaigns within the previous two years, or where there has been a contribution in excess of $3,500 within two years by multiple plaintiffs or defendants, or by an attorney and his or her law firm collectively.

Comments must be received no later than April 29, 2011 and sent to: John McConnell, Esq., Counsel, Office of Court Administration, 25 Beaver Street, New York, N.Y. 10004 or
via email to [email protected].