Recently, the New York State Bar Association (N.Y.S.B.A.) Committee on Professional Ethics held that a public defender may not represent a client in the court where another public defender is a part-time judge because to do so would violate the public defender’s duties under Rule 8.4(f)—Misconduct. Defenders
Rule 8.4(f) prohibits a lawyer from causing a judge to violate his or her own ethical obligations under the Rules of Judicial Conduct not to “permit his or her partners or associates to practice law in the court in which he or she is a judge.”
In the inquiry before the N.Y.S.B.A., the attorney was a member of a public defender office and lived in an area where City Court judges serve on a part-time basis. These part-time judges are also permitted to practice law. Another member of the public defender office was a part-time judge in the City Court.
In reaching its opinion, the Committee reasoned that if the associated part-time City Court judge does not take steps to prevent other lawyers who are part of the same public defender’s office from practicing before the City Court, then the other public defenders—on their own initiative—must decline to make appearances or withdraw altogether.
To read the entire opinion, click here.
