R.i. Sup. Ct. R. 3.1

As amended through June 7, 2024

Rule 3.1 - Extrajudicial Activities in General

A judge* may engage in extrajudicial activities, except as prohibited by law* or this Code. However, when engaging in extrajudicial activities, a judge shall not:

(A) participate in activities that will interfere with the proper performance of the judge's judicial duties;

(B) participate in activities that will lead to frequent disqualification of the judge;

(C) participate in activities that would appear to a reasonable person to undermine the judge's independence,* integrity,* or impartiality;*

(D) engage in conduct that a reasonable person would view as an effort to coerce others into participating in extrajudicial activities favored by the judge or refraining from participating in extrajudicial activities disfavored by the judge; or

(E) make use of court premises, staff, stationery, equipment, or other resources, except for activities that concern the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice, or unless such additional use is permitted by law.

R.i. Sup. Ct. R. 3.1

Revised 9/1/2023.

COMMENT

[1] To the extent that time permits, and judicial independence and impartiality are not compromised, judges are encouraged to engage in appropriate extrajudicial activities. Judges are uniquely qualified to engage in extrajudicial activities that concern the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice, such as by speaking, writing, teaching, or participating in scholarly research projects. In addition, judges are permitted and encouraged to engage in educational, religious, charitable, fraternal or civic extrajudicial activities not conducted for profit, even when the activities do not involve the law. See Rule 3.7.

[2] Participation in both law-related and other extrajudicial activities helps integrate judges into their communities, and furthers public understanding of and respect for courts and the judicial system.

[3] Discriminatory actions and expressions of bias or prejudice by a judge, even outside the judge's official or judicial actions, are likely to appear to a reasonable person to call into question the judge's integrity and impartiality. Examples include actions or remarks that demean individuals based upon, by way of example, their race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. For the same reason, a judge's extrajudicial activities must not be conducted in connection or affiliation with an organization that practices invidious discrimination. See Rule 3.6.

[4] While engaged in permitted extrajudicial activities, judges must not coerce others or take action that would reasonably be perceived as coercive. In fulfilling their extrajudicial roles, however, judges are not prohibited from zealously advocating for a particular position or viewpoint. For example, depending upon the circumstances, a judge may zealously advocate for a particular position or viewpoint and do so in any discussion and debate that takes place during his or her extrajudicial activities. Such conduct, in and of itself, is not inappropriate and generally would not amount to coercion. In contrast, and again depending upon the circumstances, a judge's solicitation* of contributions* or memberships for an organization, even as permitted by Rule 3.7(A), might create the risk that the person solicited would feel obligated to respond favorably, or would do so to curry favor with the judge.