As used in Canon 4:
(A) "Aggregate" means not only contributions in cash or in-kind made directly to a candidate's campaign committee, but also all contributions made indirectly with the understanding that they will be used to support the election of a candidate or to oppose the election of the candidate's opponent. (B) "Contribution" has the same meaning as in R.C. 3517.01 and includes an in-kind contribution. (C) "Immediate family" means a spouse or domestic partner or any of the following who are related by blood, law, or marriage to the judicial candidate: (D) "Domestic partner," "independence," "integrity," "impartiality," "impending," and "pending" have the same meaning as in the Terminology section of this code. (E) "In-kind contribution" has the same meaning as in R.C. 3517.01. (F) "Judicial candidate" means a person who has made a public announcement of candidacy for judicial office, declared or filed as a candidate for judicial office with the election authority, or authorized the solicitation or receipt of contributions or support for judicial office, whichever occurred first. (G) "Knowingly" means actual knowledge of the fact in question. A person's knowledge may be inferred from circumstances. (H) "Law firm" means a lawyer or lawyers in a law partnership, professional corporation, sole proprietorship, or other association authorized to practice law or lawyers engaged in a private or public legal aid or public defender organization, a legal services organization, the legal department of a corporation or other organization, or the attorney general, prosecuting attorney, law director, or other public office. (I) "Loan" means an advance of money with an absolute promise to pay, with or without interest, and includes loan guarantees. (J) "Organization" means any entity or combination of two or more persons, other than a political party, including, but not limited to, a corporation, nonprofit corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, professional association, continuing association, estate, trust, business trust, political action committee as defined in R.C. 3517.01, law firm, organization affiliated with a political party, labor organization, campaign committee of another candidate for public office, or caucus campaign committee. (K) "Organization affiliated with a political party" means a combination of two or more persons, other than a political party or an organization, that is identified by its name or association with a national, state, or county political party or expressly promotes the interests, philosophy, or candidates of a political party. (L) "Political action committee" has the same meaning as in R.C. 3517.01. (M) "Political party" has the same meaning as in R.C. 3517.01 and includes any national, state, or county political party.(N) "Prominent lettering" means not less than the physical size of the largest type used to display the title of office or the court to which the judicial candidate seeks election, irrespective of the point size or font of the largest type.Comparison to Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct
Rule 4.6 is analogous to Ohio Canon 7(A). The following definitions in Rule 4.6 have been added to or modified from those contained in Ohio Canon 7(A):
* A definition of "aggregate" has been added based on the definition contained in the Terminology section of the Model Code;
* "Immediate family" has been modified to include a reference to "domestic partner" and specify that the definition includes first cousins only;
* Definitions of "domestic partner," "integrity," "independence," and "impartiality," "impending," and "pending" have been added to correspond to the Terminology section of the code;
* "In-kind contribution" has been modified to conform to the statutory definition contained in R.C. 3517.01. See Disciplinary Counsel v. Spicer 106 Ohio St.3d 247, 2005-Ohio-4788;
* "Law firm" has been modified to conform to the definition found in Rule 1.0 of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, with the addition of references to lawyers who practice together in a public office.
Comparison to ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct
The Model Code contains no rule analogous to Rule 4.6. The definitions applicable to Model Canon 4 are contained in the Terminology section of the Model Code.
Amended effective 1/1/2013; amended February 11, 2020, effective 2/11/2020; amended July 21, 2020, effective 8/1/2020.