In judicial campaigns, ethical guidelines emphasize maintaining judicial impartiality and integrity. You must balance political support needs with the requirements to remain impartial and uphold the law.
When you run for a judicial position, the ethical considerations differ from other political campaigns. Because your role is serve impartially, your actions, statements, and campaign materials must reflect this. And unlike traditional political candidates, judicial candidates are often restricted in discussing legal issues. This prevents any appearance of bias. Because of these restrictions, candidates for judge should avoid making promises about specific rulings or taking stances on controversial legal matters.
Campaign financing is also scrutinized rigorously for judicial candidates. Your fundraising activities must not create any actual or potential conflicts of interest. And none of your fundraising or donation solicitations should cast doubt on your independence. This goes beyond just adhering to contribution limits and finances disclosure transparency.
Interactions with media and the public also require careful handling. While expressing your qualifications and vision, avoid comments that could appear prejudicial or suggest pre-determined case outcomes.
Always work to ensure that your campaign conduct aligns with your jurisdiction’s judicial code of ethics. This applies both on the campaign trail and when you are on the bench after your election.