Ala. Jud. Ethics 6

As amended through July 15, 2024

Canon 6 - A judge should regularly file reports of his financial interests

A judge may receive compensation and reimbursement of expenses for the quasi-judicial and extra-judicial activities permitted by these canons, it the source of such payments does not give the appearance of influencing the judge in his judicial duties or otherwise give the appearance of impropriety, subject to the following restrictions:

A. COMPENSATION. Compensation should not exceed a reasonable amount, nor should it exceed what a person who is not a judge would receive for the same activity.

B. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. Expense reimbursement should be limited to the actual cost of travel, food, and lodging reasonably incurred by the judge and, where appropriate to the occasion, by his spouse. Any payment in excess of such an amount is compensation.

C. DISCLOSURE OF FINANCIAL INTEREST. A judge, at the time he or she takes the oath of office, or a candidate for judicial office, within 10 days after qualifying, shall file as a public document a "statement of economic interests" on the form prepared and prescribed by the Alabama Ethics Commission or its successor and shall disclose his or her economic interests as other state officers or candidates are required to disclose by any state ethics law.

In addition to the statement of economic interests, a judge shall file at the same time a "disclosure statement of financial interests." The disclosure statement of financial interests shall contain a list of the names of proprietorships, companies, corporations, and/or partnerships in which he or she owns a financial interest and a list of the names of creditors to whom he or she owes money.

The disclosure statement of financial interests shall be filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court who shall keep the disclosure statement in a confidential format that is accessible by only the Clerk. A judge may either file a completed and signed paper version of his or her disclosure statement with the Clerk of the Supreme Court or complete and file the disclosure statement electronically with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and sign that statement using an electronic signature pursuant to Rule 30(G), Ala. R. Jud. Admin.

Any lawyer or litigant desiring to inquire as to a judge's possible conflict of interest in a case in which the lawyer or litigant is involved may do so by contacting the Clerk of the Supreme Court for a determination of whether a conflict of interest exists. The Clerk of the Supreme Court shall examine the judge's disclosure statement of financial interests in camera. Should no conflict exist, this fact shall be made known to the lawyer or litigant making the inquiry. Should a conflict exist, this fact shall be made known to the lawyer or litigant making the inquiry and be brought to the attention of the judge, who shall forthwith recuse himself or herself.

Ala. Jud. Ethics 6

Amended 6-5-79, eff. 6/30/1979; amended June 12, 2024, eff. 6/12/2024.

Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Canon 3.A(5) and Canon 6.C., Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics, effective June 12, 2024, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from __ So. 3d.