The Law, the Legal System, or the Administration of Justice

Many provisions in the code of judicial conduct refer to "the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice" to define aspects of judges' ethical obligations, often using the term to create an exception to a rule. (Massachusetts Advisory Opinion 1998-13) Political activity Canon 5C of the 1990 American Bar Association Model Code of Judicial Conduct prohibited judges from engaging in political activity but created an exception "on behalf of measures to improve the law, the legal system or the administration of justice." (Several states that have otherwise adopted much of the 2007 model code have retained the exception, including Arizona, Connecticut, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming.) Interpreting the 1990 exception, advisory committees have allowed judges to publicly support or oppose ballot initiatives, bond questions, proposed legislation or constitutional amendments, and funding plans on matters such as judicial compensation, court structure, court budgets, new courthouses, judicial selection, and sentencing.