Social, Civic, & Charitable Activities - Ex. 3
Public speaking: Payment for these services?
A judge is asked to speak at an educational program for judges in another state and is offered reimbursement of all her travel and lodging expenses plus an honorarium.
May the judge accept these payments?
- 1. Yes, as long as the honorarium is reasonable and the judge reports it.
- Judges are ethically permitted to teach, and may accept reimbursement of expenses and honoraria for doing so. NMRA 21-500 (B) and commentary to NMRA 21-600. The honorarium must be reasonable and commensurate with the tasks performed, and the arrangements must not create a conflict of interest for the judge or take excessive time away from judicial duties. The honorarium, and any expense reimbursement that exceeds the judge’s actual cost of travel and lodging, are considered extra-judicial compensation. Judges (unless exempted by NMRA 21-901 (C) (1) (f)) must report their extra-judicial compensation annually to the Clerk of the Supreme Court, pursuant to NMRA 21-600.
- 2. The judge may only accept the reimbursement of expenses.
- Judges are ethically permitted to teach, and may accept reimbursement of expenses and honoraria for doing so. NMRA 21-500 (B) and commentary to NMRA 21-600. The honorarium must be reasonable and commensurate with the tasks performed, and the arrangements must not create a conflict of interest for the judge or take excessive time away from judicial duties. The honorarium, and any expense reimbursement that exceeds the judge’s actual cost of travel and lodging, are considered extra-judicial compensation. Judges (unless exempted by NMRA 21-901 (C) (1) (f)) must report their extra-judicial compensation annually to the Clerk of the Supreme Court, pursuant to NMRA 21-600.
- 3. The judge may not accept any payment in these circumstances.
- Judges are ethically permitted to teach, and may accept reimbursement of expenses and honoraria for doing so. NMRA 21-500 (B) and commentary to NMRA 21-600. The honorarium must be reasonable and commensurate with the tasks performed, and the arrangements must not create a conflict of interest for the judge or take excessive time away from judicial duties. The honorarium, and any expense reimbursement that exceeds the judge’s actual cost of travel and lodging, are considered extra-judicial compensation. Judges (unless exempted by NMRA 21-901 (C) (1) (f)) must report their extra-judicial compensation annually to the Clerk of the Supreme Court, pursuant to NMRA 21-600.