Rule 51:4.2 - POLITICAL AND CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES OF JUDICIAL CANDIDATES IN RETENTION ELECTIONS(A)A judicial candidate* in a retention 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 fund-raising laws, regulations of Iowa, and this Code;(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 rule 51:4.4, before their dissemination; and(4)take reasonable measures to ensure that other persons do not undertake on behalf of the judicial candidate activities, other than those described in rule 51:4.4, that the candidate is prohibited from doing by rule 51:4.1.(B)A judicial candidate in a retention election may, unless prohibited by law*:(1)establish a campaign committee pursuant to the provisions of rule 51:4.4;(2)speak on behalf of his or her candidacy through any medium, including, but not limited to, advertisements, websites, or other campaign literature; and(3)seek, accept, or use endorsements from any person or organization other than a partisan political organization.Iowa. Code. Jud. Cond. 51:4.2
Court Order April 30, 2010, effective 5/3/2010.Comment
[1] Paragraph (B) permits judicial candidates in retention elections to engage in some political and campaign activities otherwise prohibited by rule 51:4.1.
[2] Despite paragraph (B), judicial candidates for retention election remain subject to many of the provisions of rule 51:4.1. For example, a candidate continues to be prohibited from soliciting funds for a political organization, knowingly making false or misleading statements during a campaign, or making certain promises, pledges, or commitments related to future adjudicative duties. See rule 51:4.1(A), paragraphs (4), (11), and (13).
[3] In retention elections, paragraph (B)(3) prohibits a candidate from seeking, accepting, or using nominations or endorsements from a partisan political organization.