Iowa Ct. R. 51:3.2

A judge shall not appear voluntarily at a public hearing before, or otherwise consult with,

an executive or a legislative body or official, except:

(A) in connection with matters concerning the law, the legal system, the provision of legal

services, or the administration of justice;

(B) in connection with matters about which the judge acquired knowledge or expertise in

the course of the judge’s judicial duties; or

(C) when the judge is acting pro se in a matter involving the judge’s legal or economic

interests, or when the judge is acting in a fiduciary* capacity.

Comment

[1] Judges possess special expertise in matters of law, the legal system, the provision of legal

services, and the administration of justice and may properly share that expertise with governmental

bodies and executive or legislative branch officials.

[2] In appearing before governmental bodies or consulting with government officials, judges

must be mindful that they remain subject to other provisions of the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct,

such as rule 51:1.3, prohibiting judges from using the prestige of office to advance their own or

others’ interests, rule 51:2.10, governing public comment on pending and impending matters, and

rule 51:3.1(C), prohibiting judges from engaging in extrajudicial activities that would appear to a

reasonable person to undermine the judge’s independence, integrity, or impartiality.

[3] In general, it would be an unnecessary and unfair burden to prohibit judges from appearing

before governmental bodies or consulting with government officials on matters that are likely to

affect them as private citizens, such as zoning proposals affecting their real property. In engaging

in such activities, however, judges must not refer to their judicial positions and must otherwise

exercise caution to avoid using the prestige of judicial office.