NASHVILLE, Tenn. – New ethics rules for judges were adopted Wednesday, barring them from making political contributions and requiring them to step aside in some cases involving their own campaign contributors.
The Tennessee Supreme Court set the rules against the backdrop of an upcoming battle in the legislature over the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary, an ethics panel for judges. Lawmakers have complained that the panel is not doing enough to police judges.
The rules, proposed by the state bar association, go into effect in July. They were in the works before lawmakers began considering making changes to the ethics panel that disciplines judges, Tennessee Bar Association executive director Allan Ramsaur said. However, he said he hopes members of the General Assembly will take them into consideration.
“We’re hopeful that these comprehensive, clear and workable rules address the concerns that many lawmakers have had,” Ramsaur said.
The new rules follow the American Bar Association’s model rules for judicial conduct.