Notice and Order – Code of Judicial Conduct: New Paragraph [3] Added to Official Comment to Rule 3.17

The Supreme Court adopted new paragraph [3] of the Official Comment to Rule 3.17 of the Code of Judicial Conduct as included in the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey. New paragraph [3] of the comment clarifies that when a judge's disqualification under Rule 3.17 would be based solely on a judge's modest ownership of publicly traded stock in an entity participating as amicus, disqualification is not required. New paragraph [3] provides guidance for determining when a judge's ownership of stock in an entity appearing as amicus is considered modest.