MA · rules
Mass. Code Jud. Conduct R. 2.4
External influences on judicial conduct
Rule 2.4
(A)
A judge shall not be swayed by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism.
(B)
A judge shall not permit family, social, political, financial, or other interests or relationships to influence the judge's judicial conduct or judgment.
(C)
A judge shall not convey or permit others to convey the impression that any person or organization is in a position to influence the judge.
History
Comment [1] An independent judiciary requires that judges decide cases according to 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. and facts, without regard to whether particular laws or litigants are popular or unpopular with the public, the media, government officials, or the judge's friends or family. Confidence in the judiciary is eroded if judicial decision-making is perceived to be subject to inappropriate outside influences. Adopted October 8, 2015, effective January 1, 2016
Provenance
- Source
- www.mass.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-17
- Edition
- 2026-09-16
- Content hash
438f7b61d07365df8ba4bf2f5b9714ce902dad61f08d00851481e0cde26245b0
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