Iowa Ct. R. 51:3.14

(A) Unless otherwise prohibited by rules 51:3.1 and 51:3.13(A) or other law,* a judge may

accept reimbursement of necessary and reasonable expenses for travel, food, lodging, or other

incidental expenses, or a waiver or partial waiver of fees or charges for registration, tuition,

and similar items, from sources other than the judge’s employing entity, if the expenses or

charges are associated with the judge’s participation in extrajudicial activities permitted by

the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct.

(B) Reimbursement of expenses for necessary travel, food, lodging, or other incidental

expenses shall be limited to the actual costs reasonably incurred by the judge and, when

appropriate to the occasion, by the judge’s spouse, domestic partner*, or guest.

Comment

[1] Educational, civic, religious, fraternal, and charitable organizations often sponsor meetings,

seminars, symposia, dinners, awards ceremonies, and similar events. Judges are encouraged

to attend educational programs, as both teachers and participants, in law-related and academic

disciplines, in furtherance of their duty to remain competent in the law. Participation in a variety of

other extrajudicial activity is also permitted and encouraged by the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct.

[2] Not infrequently, sponsoring organizations invite certain judges to attend seminars or other

events on a fee-waived or partial-fee-waived basis, and sometimes include reimbursement for

necessary travel, food, lodging, or other incidental expenses. A judge’s decision whether to accept

reimbursement of expenses or a waiver or partial waiver of fees or charges in connection with these

or other extrajudicial activities must be based upon an assessment of all the circumstances. The

judge must undertake a reasonable inquiry to obtain the information necessary to make an informed

judgment about whether acceptance would be consistent with the requirements of this Code.

[3] A judge must assure himself or herself that acceptance of reimbursement or fee waivers would

not appear to a reasonable person to undermine the judge’s independence, integrity, or impartiality.

The factors that a judge should consider when deciding whether to accept reimbursement or a fee

waiver for attendance at a particular activity include:

(a) whether the sponsor is an accredited educational institution or bar association rather than a

trade association or a for-profit entity;

(b) whether the funding comes largely from numerous contributors rather than from a single entity

and is earmarked for programs with specific content;

(c) whether the content is related or unrelated to the subject matter of litigation pending or

impending before the judge, or to matters that are likely to come before the judge;

(d) whether the activity is primarily educational rather than recreational, and whether the costs of

the event are reasonable and comparable to those associated with similar events sponsored by the

judiciary, bar associations, or similar groups;

(e) whether information concerning the activity and its funding sources is available upon inquiry;

(f) whether the sponsor or source of funding is generally associated with particular parties

or interests currently appearing or likely to appear in the judge’s court, thus possibly requiring

disqualification or recusal of the judge under rule 51:2.11;

(g) whether differing viewpoints are presented; and

(h) whether a broad range of judicial and nonjudicial participants are invited, whether a large

number of participants are invited, and whether the program is designed specifically for judges.