Judicial Ethics and Public Confidence in the Judiciary

Features

Ethics

A Dash of Hortatory Guidance with a Pinch of Public Outcry: A Brief History of the Development of a Code of Conduct That Protects Judicial Independence, Impartiality, and Integrity

Judge John C. Allen IV

The judiciary and the ABA established a code of conduct for judges that maintains the trust of the American public by reinforcing judicial independence, impartiality, and integrity.

Ethics

Judicial Ethics: Why Rules Matter, and Why the Reasons for the Rules Matter Even More

Judge Jeremy Fogel (Ret.)

The recent adoption of a formal Code of Conduct by the U.S. Supreme Court reinforces that specific ethical standards should be clearly and publicly acknowledged and should not be underestimated, affirming that both rules and values matter.

Ethics

Enforcing the Code, Restoring Confidence in the Supreme Court

Teresa J. Schmid

Resolution 400, passed by the American Bar Association in early 2023, urged the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt a code of ethics for its justices, similar to the Code of Conduct adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Ethics

We Can Do Better

Judge Morgan Christen

The public’s loss of confidence in the judiciary makes it more important than ever that judges engage in public outreach to educate and engage the public and hopefully restore trust.

Ethics

Building Public Confidence in the Judiciary through Judicial Conduct Commissions

David J. Sachar

Judicial conduct commissions’ enforcement of state judicial ethics codes promotes public confidence by preserving the integrity of the court system; the judiciary must earn and maintain the public’s trust by adhering to these ethical standards.

Ethics

Promoting Judicial Clerk Transparency: A Proposal That Balances Hiring Prerogative and Public Accountability

Susan Fortney

Providing transparency of judicial clerks can help foster public trust, confidence, and accountability while preserving judges’ rights to select clerks they believe will most capably contribute to their courts.

Technology Column

Ethics

Basic Technology-Driven Customer Service Features Courts Should Provide to Everyday Court Users

Judge Herbert B. Dixon Jr.

Judge Dixon reviews a 2018 paper about the ways courts should use technology to better serve everyday customers using smartphones to access court services and asks how courts measure up to implementing these services in 2024.

Ethics Column

Ethics

Advisory Opinions Support Judges in Walking the Ethical Path

Marla N. Greenstein

A robust functioning judicial disciplinary system enhances confidence in the judiciary; an equally important component of a functioning judicial ethics framework includes guiding judges through ethics advisory opinions.

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Judicial Ethics and Public Confidence in the Judiciary

Judicial Ethics Enhances Public Confidence in the Impartiality of the Judiciary

Features

A Dash of Hortatory Guidance with a Pinch of Public Outcry: A Brief History of the Development of a Code of Conduct That Protects Judicial Independence, Impartiality, and Integrity

Judicial Ethics: Why Rules Matter, and Why the Reasons for the Rules Matter Even More

Enforcing the Code, Restoring Confidence in the Supreme Court

We Can Do Better

Building Public Confidence in the Judiciary through Judicial Conduct Commissions

Promoting Judicial Clerk Transparency: A Proposal That Balances Hiring Prerogative and Public Accountability

Technology Column

Basic Technology-Driven Customer Service Features Courts Should Provide to Everyday Court Users

Ethics Column

Advisory Opinions Support Judges in Walking the Ethical Path

ABA Resources

The ABA

Connect

Renew Your ABA Membership

American Bar Association TM American Bar Association

Judicial Ethics and Public Confidence in the Judiciary

Judicial Ethics Enhances Public Confidence in the Impartiality of the Judiciary

Features

A Dash of Hortatory Guidance with a Pinch of Public Outcry: A Brief History of the Development of a Code of Conduct That Protects Judicial Independence, Impartiality, and Integrity

Judicial Ethics: Why Rules Matter, and Why the Reasons for the Rules Matter Even More

Enforcing the Code, Restoring Confidence in the Supreme Court

We Can Do Better

Building Public Confidence in the Judiciary through Judicial Conduct Commissions

Promoting Judicial Clerk Transparency: A Proposal That Balances Hiring Prerogative and Public Accountability

Technology Column

Basic Technology-Driven Customer Service Features Courts Should Provide to Everyday Court Users

Ethics Column

Advisory Opinions Support Judges in Walking the Ethical Path

ABA Resources

The ABA

Connect