Court to decide whether to relax judicial ethics

Friday, Sept. 17, 1999 | 9:38 a.m.

The proposed amendment to rules of judicial ethics would let the judges solicit money for more causes. Now, judges can only raise funds for limited causes, such as improving a law library or refurbishing a courthouse.

Opponents included Washoe District Judge Brent Adams, who said the change would let judges solicit donations from lawyers appearing before them for charities.

If the rules are relaxed, Nevada would be the only state in the nation to do so, he added.

Advocates of the change included Carson District Judge Michael Griffin, who said there's no distinction between raising money for law libraries or indigent legal assistance.

Six rural Nevada judges touched off the debate last year when their names appeared on invitations for Carson City's annual Cow County Ball, which raises money for legal assistance for the poor.

The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline sent the judges a letter saying they were wrong to lend their names to the $30-per-person event.

Nineteen judges from Reno to Las Vegas challenged the commission's position and asked the Supreme Court to amend the rules to allow their support for such causes.

The high court is expected to issue a written opinion on the issue later.