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JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION COMMISSION
ADVISORY OPINIONS

In 2021, the Judicial Investigation Commission decided to update the JIC Advisory Opinion Website. All relevant opinions were redacted to remove the identifying information of the requestor and uploaded in their entirety to the website. Importantly, they are now searchable by assigned number, topic and/or Code provision. Obsolete opinions were identified and retired.

Numbers were given to each advisory opinion. The number to the left of the hyphen (-) represents the year in which the advisory opinion was written. The number to the right of the hyphen (-) is the actual opinion number. New topics were created, and each advisory opinion was ascribed one or more for ease of reference. Lengthy summaries were reduced to questions(s) presented and applicable Code Rules have been listed to the right of them. Not every advisory opinion contains a Rule.

Beginning with JIC AO 2015-23 through the current advisory opinion, the Rules cited pertain to the West Virginia Code of Judicial Conduct in effect from December 1, 2015 to the present time. Beginning with JIC Advisory Opinion 1993-02 through JIC Advisory Opinion 2015-19, the Rules cited pertain to the Code in effect from January 1, 1993 through November 30, 2015. Beginning with JIC Advisory Opinion 1985-01 through JIC Advisory Opinion 1992-23, the Rules cited pertain to the Code in effect from January 1, 1973 through December 31, 1992.

Retired Advisory Opinions from 6/6/2023

Retired Advisory Opinions from 12/10/2021

Old to new code conversion

Advisory Opinion Topic Words

 

Complaint Number Topic Question/Code Reference
1997-13 extrajudicial activities, appearance of impropriety/impropriety, domestic violence and law enforcement

May a magistrate attend annual luncheons, picnics and/or parties sponsored by Victim Assistance Programs, Sexual Assault Centers, Family Violence Prevention Programs, police agencies, etc.? [2A and 4C(3)]
1997-12 extrajudicial activities, boards/commissions and civic

May a judge serve on the Board of Directors of the United Way? [4C(3)]
1997-11 extrajudicial activities, government, letter and testimony

Can a judge write legislators and/or testify before legislative committees expressing his/her opinions about bills? [4A and 4C]
1997-10 extrajudicial activities and law/legal system/administration of justice

Can a judge maintain membership as a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers? [4C(2)]
1997-09 disclosure/disqualification and family member

Is a judge disqualified from presiding over criminal cases when his/her third cousin works at the prosecutor’s office as a paralegal? [3E(1)(d)]
1997-08 appearance of impropriety/impropriety, letter and jury

Can a judge send notes to members of a jury thanking them for their service? [1A and 2A]
1997-07 extrajudicial activities, appearance of impropriety/impropriety and domestic violence

Can judges serve on domestic violence coordinating councils? [1A, 2A, 3B(2), 4A, 4C(2) and 4C(3)(a)]
1997-06 disclosure/disqualification and former employment

Can a family law master preside over cases when his/her former law partner is representing one of the parties? [3E(1)(b)]
1997-05 disclosure/disqualification, staff, law enforcement and appearance of impropriety/impropriety

Is a magistrate disqualified from presiding over criminal cases involving the police officer spouse of his/her magistrate assistant? [2A, 2B, 3E(1)]
1997-04 extrajudicial activities

May a judge-elect continue to a familial relationship with an elderly woman with whom he/she has served as attorney-in-fact upon assuming the bench? [4E(1)]