MA · rules
Mass. Code Jud. Conduct R. 1.1
Compliance with the Law
Rule 1.1
A judge shall comply with the lawDefinitionIncludes court rules and standing orders issued by the Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court, the Chief Justice of the Trial Court, or a Chief Justice of a Trial Court Department, as well as statutes, constitutional provisions, and decisional law. Chapter 268A §§ 3 and 23(b)(2) provide that conduct explicitly recognized by another statute or regulation may supersede certain provisions of Chapter 268A. The Rules of the Supreme Judicial Court are considered regulations for this purpose. In several instances, provisions of this Code supersede provisions of Chapter 268A. See Rule 1.1., including the Code of Judicial Conduct.
History
Comment [1] A judge's obligation to comply with the law ordinarily includes the obligation to comply with the State conflict of interest law, G. L. c. 268A and c. 268B. However, the unique role of judges requires that judges on occasion follow rules that may be more or less restrictive than those followed by other public employees. In many instances, this Code imposes more stringent restrictions on judges' activities because of their obligation to act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the judiciary. Thus, for example, the Code regulates aspects of a judge's personal conduct, including a judge's participation in extrajudicial activities unrelated to the law, and prohibits judges from political and campaign activities open to many other public employees. See, e.g., Rules 3.7 and 4.1. However, in a few instances, this Code creates exemptions from particular restrictions imposed by G. L. c. 268A §§ 3 and 23(b)(2) so that judges may more fully participate in activities related to the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice. See, e.g., Rules 3.1(E) and 3.13(D)-(E). Adopted October 8, 2015, effective January 1, 2016
Provenance
- Source
- www.mass.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-17
- Edition
- 2026-09-16
- Content hash
c05070dd02024edf8a49b8140ff0c3c54a2c0a1661071c9512cb1dac2b9c1220
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