Rule 4.1 - Political Conduct of Incumbent Judges(A) A judge shall not: (1) act as a leader or hold an office in a political organization or take part in any political campaign;(2) publicly endorse or publicly oppose a candidate for public office;(3) make speeches on behalf of a political organization;(4) participate in political caucuses or meetings;(5) pay an assessment or make a contribution to a political party, organization, or candidate, or purchase tickets for political party dinners or other functions;(6) solicit funds for a political party, organization, or candidate; or(7) engage in any other political activity except as authorized under any other provision of this Code, or on behalf of measures to improve the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice.(B) A judge who is a candidate for retention or confirmation in a state judicial office currently held, or for appointment to any other public office, shall also comply with the provisions of Rule 4.2.(C) A judge shall resign from judicial office upon becoming a candidate for any elective office, except that: (1) a probate or assistant judge may be a candidate for reelection or may serve as town meeting moderator, and(2) an assistant judge or a candidate for the office of assistant judge may also seek election to the office of probate judge, and a probate judge or a candidate for the office of probate judge may also seek election to the office of assistant judge, and in either case, if otherwise qualified and elected to both offices, may serve both as an assistant judge and as a probate judge, provided that the judge or candidate complies with the provisions of Rule 4.3.Vt. Admin. Ord. Of. Sup. Ct. 4.1
Amended August 6, 2019, eff. 10/7/2019.Reporter's Notes
Rule 4.1 carries forward Vermont Code 1994, Canon 5A, with changes to conform to the numbering and style of ABA Code 2007. See Reporter's Notes to Vermont Code 1994, Canon 5, and first and second 2012 amendments.