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CEDP Phase IV

Updated 05/08/07

Washington, D.C.

2007

A Contemporary Ethics Code for Court Staff

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A Short History of the World

The Model Codes

•AJS 1988/1989 [Ozar, Kelly, Begue]

•NACM 1989/1990

•COSCA ~1991

•ABA 1990, 2007

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NACM Model Code

1989/1990

•Don Cullen

•Steve Steadman

•Norman Meyer

•Kent Batty

•Pam Roberts

•Randy Kitchen

•Frederick Lear

•Cameron Burke

•John Clarke

•Charlie Gnadt

•Todd Nuccio

•Sam Shelton

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NACM Model Code 2006/2007

•General or Specific?

• Aspirational and idealistic, or proscriptive (Thou shalt not…)?

•Application: written for whom?

Some Foundational Issues in Drafting Codes…

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NACM Model Code 2006/2007

•Structure & placement

•Adopted by? Imposed by?

•Teeth or no teeth? Enforcement mechanisms?

Some Foundational Issues…

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NACM Model Code 2006/2007

Abuse of Position

Citizenship

Committing to the Intended Purpose of One’s Position

Competency, Responsibility to maintain…

Compliance/Enforcement

Confidentiality ***

Conflict of Interest

Dealing with Outside People & Organizations

Discrimination & Bias

Dress & Grooming

Duty to Serve the Public & The Court

Code TopicsEmployees Involved in Court Cases

Fraud & Theft

Funds & Other Assets, proper handling

Gifts, Entertainment, Favors, Benefits

Harassment

Honoraria, speaking fees

Illegal Drugs & Alcohol

Impartiality

Impropriety & Appearance of Impropriety

Integrity

Interests in Public Contracts

Kickbacks and Secret Commissions

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NACM Model Code 2006/2007

Code TopicsLegal Advice, prohibition on giving…

Outside Activities

Outside Employment

Performance of Duties

Personal Activity

Personal Financial Disclosure

Political Activity ***

Post-Employment Restrictions

Privacy

Professionalism

Prohibition on Attorney Referrals

Promptness and Dress

Proper Use of Public Resources

Public Contact

Records & Communications

Relationships with Clients & Suppliers

Release of News Information

Sanctions; Duty to Report Violations

Service Against the State’s or the Court’s Interests

Sexual Harassment

Solicitation/Fundraising

Staff Attorneys & Law Clerks; Practice of Law

Substance Abuse

Technology, appropriate use…

Use of Influence or Position

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Comparison: Interpreter Codes

•Accuracy

•Impartiality/Conflict of Interest

•Confidentiality

•Limitations of Practice

•Protocol/Professional Demeanor

•Maintaining Competence

•Accurate Representation of Credentials

•Impediments to Compliance

•Duty to Report Violations

In contrast, almost every court

interpreter code collected contains

the same few topics.

Why didn’t the other “models” functions

as models?

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NACM Model Code 2006/2007

•Minnesota vs. White: Rapidly rising judicial political activity; $$

•Emerging tech issues: “googling” job candidates, data access, etc.

•Evolving social relationships

Code Revision: Why Now?

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NACM Model Code

Revision Project, 2006/2007

•Pam Harris (MD)

•Peter Kiefer (AZ)

•David Slayton (TX)

•Karl Thoennes (SD)

•Kevin Bowling (MI)

•David Boyd (IA)

•Lee Suskin (VT)

•Others…

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• Structure, placement, format

• Adopted by and for…? (I/we)

• How do we address contemporary, non-formalized personal or romantic relationships? (Wolfowitz)

• Post-employment restrictions?

Some of the discussions & debate on the latest draft…

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NACM Model Code 2006/2007

•Political activity

•Is it okay to google job candidates?

• Whose model do we follow? (ABA?)

• “Open” government – what do we mean by “open” in the courts?

Discussions & debate on the latest draft…

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NACM Model Code 2006/2007

•Additional issues, serving beer, moonlighting at Hooters, etc.

•What’s in the code, what’s commentary?

•Duty to Report/”ratting out”

•Others…?

Discussions & debate on the latest draft…

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NACM Model Code 2006/2007

• Geoff’s exercise here…ready, set, go.

Breakout…

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NACM Model Ethics Code 2006/2007

We’re Done!

Congratulations & Good Luck!

Now go home and don’t do anything unethical.