Tex. Code Jud. Conduct Canon 6

A. The following persons shall comply with all provisions of this Code:

(1) An active, full-time justice or judge of one of the following courts:

(a) the Supreme Court,

(b) the Court of Criminal Appeals,

(c) courts of appeals,

(d) district courts,

(e) criminal district courts,

(f) statutory county courts,

(g) statutory probate courts, and

(h) the business court.

(2) A full-time commissioner, master, magistrate, or referee of a court listed in (1) above.

B. A County Judge who performs judicial functions shall comply with all provisions

of this Code except the judge is not required to comply:

(1) when engaged in duties which relate to the judge's role in the administration of the

county;

(2) with Canons 4D(2), 4D(3), or 4H;

(3) with Canon 4F, unless the court on which the judge serves may have jurisdiction of the

matter or parties involved in the arbitration or mediation;

(4) with Canon 4G, except practicing law in the court on which he or she serves or in any

court subject to the appellate jurisdiction of the county court, or acting as a lawyer in a proceeding

in which he or she has served as a judge or in any proceeding related thereto.

(5) with Canon 5(3).

C. Justices of the Peace and Municipal Court Judges.

(1) A justice of the peace or municipal court judge shall comply with all provisions of this

Code, except the judge is not required to comply:

(a) with Canon 3B(8) pertaining to ex parte communications; in lieu thereof a justice of

the peace or municipal court judge shall comply with 6C(2) below;

(b) with Canons 4D(2), 4D(3), 4E, or 4H;

(c) with Canon 4F, unless the court on which the judge serves m ay have jurisdiction of

the matter or parties involved in the arbitration or mediation; or

(d) if an attorney, with Canon 4G, except practicing law in the court on which he or she

serves, or acting as a lawyer in a proceeding in which he or she has se rved as a judge or

in any proceeding related thereto.

(e) with Canons 5(3).

(2) A justice of the peace or a m unicipal court judge, except as authorized by law, shall not

directly or indire ctly initiate, per mit, nor consider ex parte or other communications

concerning the m erits of a pending judicial proceeding. This subsection does not prohibit

communications concerning:

(a) uncontested administrative matters,

(b) uncontested procedural matters,

(c) magistrate duties and functions,

(d) determining where jurisdiction of an impending claim or dispute may lie,

(e) determining whether a claim or dispute might more appropriately be resolved in some

other judicial or non-judicial forum,

(f) mitigating circumstances following a plea of nolo contendere or guilty for a fine- only

offense, or

(g) any other matters where ex parte communications are contemplated or authorized by

law.

D. A Part-time commissioner, master, magistrate, or referee of a court listed in Canon

6A(1) above:

(1) shall comply with all provisions of this Code, except he or she is not required to comply

with Canons 4D(2), 4E, 4F, 4G or 4H, and

(2) should not practice law in the court which he or she serves or in any court subject to the

appellate jurisdiction of the court which he or she serves, or act as a lawyer in a proceeding in

which he or she has served as a commissioner, master, magistrate, or referee, or in any other

proceeding related thereto.

E. A Judge Pro Tempore, while acting as such:

(1) shall comply with all provisions of this Code applicable to the court on which he or she is

serving, except he or she is not required to comply with Canons 4D(2), 4D(3), 4E, 4F, 4G or

4H, and

(2) after serving as a judge pro tempore, should not act as a lawyer in a proceeding in which he

or she has served as a judge or in any other proceeding related thereto.

F. Any Senior Judge, or a former appellate or district judge, or a retired or former

statutory county court judge who has consented to be subject to assignment as a judicial

officer:

(1) shall comply with all the provisions of this Code except he or she is not required to

comply with Canon 4D(2), 4E, 4F, 4G, or 4H, but

(2) should refrain from judicial service during the period of an extra-judicial appointment

permitted by Canon 4H.

G. Candidates for Judicial Office.

(1) Any person seeking elective judicial office listed in Canon 6A(1) shall be subject to the

same standards of Canon 5 that are required of members of the judiciary.

(2) Any judge or person seeking elective judicial office listed in Canon 6A(1) who violates

this Code shall be subject to sanctions by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

(3) Any lawyer who is a candidate seeking judicial office who violates Canon 5 or other

relevant provisions of this Code is subject to disciplinary action by the State Bar of Texas.

(4) The conduct of any judge or person seeking elective judicial office may be subject to review

by the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, or the local District Attorney for appropriate action,

as authorized by other statute or rule.

H. Attorneys.

Any lawyer who contributes to the violation of Canons 3B(7), 3B(10), 4D(4), 5, or

6C(2), or other relevant provisions of this Code, is subject to disciplinary action by the State

Bar of Texas.