Tenn. R. Sup. Ct. 4.2
Comment
[1] Paragraphs (B), (C), and (D) permit judicial candidates in public elections to engage in some political and campaign activities otherwise prohibited by RJC 4.1.
[1A] It is possible for some judicial offices to be subject to a primary and general election. It is possible for some counties to have a partisan primary for a particular office whereas another county might only have a nonpartisan general election for the same office. It is also conceivable that the decision as to whether or not to hold a primary might not be made until within the 365-day period before the primary. Therefore, for the sake of uniformity, the 365-day period for all judicial offices that can possibly be subject to a primary election, whether or not there actually is a primary, shall begin to run from the date the primary would be held.
[2] Paragraph (C) provides a limited exception to the restrictions imposed by RJC 4.1 and permits judges or judicial candidates at any time to be involved in limited political activity. Note that paragraph (C) is equally applicable to judges or judicial candidates subject to partisan, nonpartisan, and retention elections. Paragraph (C)(3) allows a judge or judicial candidate to contribute to a political organization or candidate in an amount not to exceed the contribution limits provided in Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-10-301 et seq. This limitation includes the purchase of tickets set out in Paragraph (C)(1).
[2A] Paragraph (C)(4) allows a judge or judicial candidate to "publicly endorse or oppose judges or judicial candidates in a partisan, nonpartisan, or retention election for any judicial office." The term "judicial office" refers only to an elected judgeship; paragraph (C)(4) does not allow a judge or judicial candidate to publicly endorse or oppose candidates for other elected (non-judge) positions within the judicial system, such as elected court clerks, district attorneys general, and district public defenders.
[3] In partisan public elections for judicial office, a candidate may be nominated by, affiliated with, or otherwise publicly identified or associated with a political organization, including a political party. This relationship may be maintained throughout the period of the public campaign, and may include use of political party or similar designations on campaign literature and on the ballot.
[4] [Intentionally omitted]
[5] [Intentionally omitted]
[6] [Intentionally omitted]
[7] [Intentionally omitted]
[7A] Paragraph (D) provides that judges and judicial candidates running for judicial office in partisan, nonpartisan, or retention elections may group themselves into slates or other alliances to conduct their campaigns more effectively.
[8] Compliance with all applicable election, election campaign, and election campaign fund-raising laws and regulations of this jurisdiction includes, but is not limited to, the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated sections 2-10-101 et seq., the Campaign Financial Disclosure Act, and Tennessee Code Annotated sections 2-10-301 et seq., the Campaign Contribution Limits Act.