Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 25, June 22, 2024
Rule 4.2 - Political and Campaign Activities of Judicial Candidates in Public Elections(A) A judicial candidate in a public election shall:(1) act at all times in a manner consistent with the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary;(2) comply with all applicable election, election campaign, and election campaign fundraising laws and regulations of this jurisdiction;(3) review and approve the content of all campaign statements and materials produced by the candidate or his or her campaign committee, as authorized by 4.4, before their dissemination; and(4) take reasonable measures to ensure that other persons do not undertake on behalf of the candidate activities, other than those described in 4.4, that the candidate is prohibited from doing by this Rule.(B) A candidate for elective judicial office may, unless prohibited by law, and not earlier than immediately after the General Election in the year prior to the calendar year in which a person may become a candidate for such office:(1) establish a campaign committee pursuant to the provisions of Rule 4.4;(2) speak on behalf of his or her candidacy through any medium, including but not limited to advertisements, websites, or other campaign literature;(3) publicly endorse or speak on behalf of, or publicly oppose or speak in opposition to, candidates for the same judicial office for which he or she is a judicial candidate, or publicly endorse or speak on behalf of candidates for any other elective judicial office appearing on the same ballot;(4) attend or purchase tickets for dinners or other events sponsored by a political organization or a candidate for public office;(5) seek, accept, or use endorsements from any person or organization;(6) contribute to a political organization or candidate for public office;(7) identify himself or herself as a member or candidate of a political organization; and(8) use court facilities for the purpose of taking photographs, videos, or other visuals for campaign purposes to the extent such facilities are available on an equal basis to other candidates for such office.(C) A magisterial district judge who is a candidate for elective judicial office shall not: (1) use or permit the use of campaign contributions for the private benefit of the candidate or others;(2) use court staff, facilities, or other court resources in a campaign for judicial office except that a magisterial district judge may use court facilities for the purpose of taking photographs, videos, or other visuals for campaign purposes to the extent such facilities are available on an equal basis for other candidates for such office;(3) knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth, make, or permit or encourage his or her campaign committee to make, any false or misleading statement; or(4) make any statement that would reasonably be expected to affect the outcome or impair the fairness of a matter pending or impending in any court.The provisions of this Rule 4.2 amended September 18, 2014, effective immediately, 44 Pa.B. 6204; amended October 31, 2014, effective immediately, 44 Pa.B. 7168; amended December 20, 2019, effective 1/20/2020, 50 Pa.B. 197.