Opinions Interpreting MCJC

The Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct [MCJC] became effective October 1, 1974; the opinions listed address conduct occurring after that date. Amendments to the MCJC addressing bias in the courts became effective October 1, 1993. Amendments to the MCJC affecting Canons 2, 4, 5, and 7 became effective August 1, 2013. For rules and opinions addressing conduct occurring prior to October 1, 1974, see the former Michigan Canons of Judicial Ethics. This table lists those ethics opinions that cite the respective provision of the MCJC. Opinions issued that cite the portions of Canons 2, 4, 5, and 7 that were amended as of August 1, 2013, are identified with reference to the Canon language that was in effect prior to August 1, 2013. View here language added and stricken by the amendments effective August 1, 2013.

Notice to Lawyers
State Bar of Michigan ethics opinions are advisory and non-binding in nature. This index is a complete historical catalog. Some of the listed ethics opinions, though not expressly superseded in subsequent ethics opinions, may be nonetheless outmoded or no longer sound due to subsequent changes in case law, statutes, or court rules. Practitioners are urged to thoroughly research all sources to determine the current validity of any given ethics opinion.

Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct Opinions Interpreting Ethics Provisions
Canon 1: A Judge Should Uphold the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary
 C-228,  J-004,  JI-022,  JI-031,  JI-034,  JI-035,  JI-038,  JI-042,
 JI-044,  JI-047,  JI-050,  JI-051,  JI-052,  JI-056,  JI-057,  JI-061,
 JI-062,  JI-064,  JI-065,  JI-066,  JI-073,  JI-081,  JI-086,  JI-094,
 JI-099,  JI-100,  JI-109,  JI-112,  JI-117,  JI-121,  JI-126,  JI-146,
 JI-147,  JI-148,  JI-149,  JI-151,  JI-157,  R-015,  RI-119,  RI-121,
 RI-131,  RI-256,
Canon 2: A Judge Should Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety
 JI-007,  JI-019,  JI-024,  JI-034,  JI-038,  JI-040,  JI-050,  JI-079,
 JI-119,  JI-121,  JI-150,  JI-153,  R-015,  RI-131,
 C-228,  J-001,  J-002,  J-004,  JI-006,  JI-007,  JI-009,  JI-012,
 JI-015,  JI-018,  JI-019,  JI-022,  JI-024,  JI-025,  JI-028,  JI-029,
 JI-031,  JI-035,  JI-038,  JI-040,  JI-041,  JI-042,  JI-047,  JI-051,
 JI-061,  JI-069,  JI-075,  JI-096,  JI-100,  JI-108,  JI-109,  JI-117,
 JI-118,  JI-122,  JI-123,  JI-124,  JI-126,  JI-139,  R-003,  RI-005,
 RI-011,  RI-119,  RI-121,
MCJC 2A
 J-008,  JI-135,  JI-137,  JI-138,  JI-139,  JI-140,  JI-151,  JI-153,
 JI-156,
MCJC 2B
 J-008,  JI-018,  JI-022,  JI-023,  JI-026,  JI-028,  JI-051,  JI-057,
 JI-061,  JI-062,  JI-067,  JI-082,  JI-086,  JI-094,  JI-096,  JI-099,
 JI-109,  JI-112,  JI-135,  JI-138,  JI-155,  JI-156,  RI-256,
MCJC 2C in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 J-001,  JI-015,  JI-018,  JI-021,  JI-030,  JI-031,  JI-035,  JI-041,
 JI-044,  JI-045,  JI-047,  JI-048,  JI-052,  JI-055,  JI-056,  JI-057,
 JI-064,  JI-065,  JI-066,  JI-068,  JI-069,  JI-073,  JI-076,  JI-081,
 JI-088,  JI-089,  JI-099,  JI-104,  JI-107,  JI-108,  JI-117,  JI-126,
 JI-135,  JI-138,  R-003,  RI-005,  RI-119,
MCJC 2C, effective 8/1/2013
 JI-139,  JI-145,  JI-153,  JI-155,  JI-156,
MCJC 2D in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-041,
MCJC 2E in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-075,  JI-109,
Canon 3: A Judge Should Perform the Duties of Office Impartially and Diligently
 C-216,  JI-034,  JI-039,  JI-048,  JI-105,  JI-153,  JI-154,  R-015,
MCJC 3A
 J-004,  JI-026,  JI-027,  JI-064,  JI-155,  JI-157,  RI-121,
MCJC 3A(1)
 JI-025,  JI-082,  JI-094,  JI-099,
MCJC 3A(2)
 JI-153,
MCJC 3A(3)
 JI-153,
MCJC 3A(4)
 J-004,  JI-008,  JI-050,  JI-083,  JI-084,  JI-085,  RI-166,  RI-195,
 RI-243,  RI-256,
MCJC 3A(6)
 J-004,  JI-027,  JI-052,  JI-082,  JI-099,  JI-109,  JI-137,
MCJC 3A(8)
 RI-256,
MCJC 3A(9)
 C-237,  JI-055,  JI-107,
MCJC 3A(10)
 JI-026,  JI-031,  JI-138,
MCJC 3B
 JI-155,  JI-156,
MCJC 3B(1)
 JI-026,
MCJC 3B(2)
 JI-138,
MCJC 3B(3)
 JI-085,
MCJC 3C
 J-004,  J-005,  J-006,  JI-023,  JI-029,  JI-031,  JI-034,  JI-039,
 JI-042,  JI-044,  JI-051,  JI-061,  JI-062,  JI-066,  JI-086,  JI-096,
 JI-100,  JI-102,  JI-112,  JI-118,  JI-119,  JI-126,  JI-138,  JI-153,
 JI-157,  RI-119,
MCJC 3D
 J-004,  J-006,  JI-008,  JI-043,  JI-106,  JI-157,
Canon 4: A Judge May Engage in Activities to Improve the Law, the Legal System, and the Administration of Justice, in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 C-217,  JI-046,  JI-052,  JI-065,  JI-107,  JI-135,  JI-137,
Canon 4: A Judge May Engage in Extrajudicial Activities, effective 8/1/2013
 JI-139,
MCJC 4A in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-021,  JI-024,  JI-068,  JI-075,  JI-076,  JI-099,  JI-108,  JI-109,
 JI-116,  JI-121,  JI-135,
MCJC 4A, effective 8/1/2013
 JI-140,
MCJC 4B in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-067,  JI-076,  JI-108,  JI-109,  JI-116,  JI-121,
MCJC 4B, effective 8/1/2013
 J-008,  JI-156,
MCJC 4C in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-012,  JI-067,  JI-076,  JI-109,  JI-116,  JI-136,
MCJC 4C, effective 8/1/2013
 J-008,  JI-139,  JI-140,
MCJC 4D
 J-008,  JI-139,  JI-140,
MCJC 4E
 JI-156,
Canon 5: A Judge Should Regulate Extra-Judicial Activities to Minimize the Risk of Conflict With Judicial Duties in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-110,
Canon 5: Applicability of the Code of Judicial Conduct to Judicial Candidates, effective 8/1/2013
 JI-150,
MCJC 5A in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 J-001,  JI-054,  JI-058,  JI-068,  JI-070,  JI-071,  JI-072,  JI-076,
 JI-080,  JI-087,  JI-121,  JI-137,
MCJC 5B in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 J-001,  J-002,  J-003,  JI-003,  JI-009,  JI-012,  JI-017,  JI-018,
 JI-019,  JI-022,  JI-033,  JI-038,  JI-042,  JI-049,  JI-051,  JI-052,
 JI-055,  JI-064,  JI-065,  JI-066,  JI-070,  JI-071,  JI-072,  JI-073,
 JI-094,  JI-103,  JI-116,  JI-121,  JI-137,
MCJC 5B(1) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-038,  JI-103,
MCJC 5B(2) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-003,  JI-033,  JI-048,  JI-054,  JI-087,  JI-103,  JI-107,  JI-115,
 JI-125,
MCJC 5C in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 J-001,  J-004,  JI-006,  JI-007,  JI-009,  JI-013,  JI-021,  JI-025,
 JI-040,  JI-075,  JI-076,  JI-086,  JI-088,  JI-097,  JI-126,
MCJC 5C(1) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-040,  JI-056,  JI-099,  JI-119,  JI-136,  JI-137,
MCJC 5C(2) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 J-003,  JI-070,  JI-072,  JI-089,  JI-099,  JI-137,
MCJC 5C(3) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-006,  JI-119,
MCJC 5C(4) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 J-001,  JI-007,  JI-009,  JI-025,  JI-075,  JI-080,  JI-106,
MCJC 5C(7) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-077,  JI-104,  JI-107,
MCJC 5D in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 J-003,  JI-088,
MCJC 5E in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-028,  JI-069,  JI-097,  JI-098,
MCJC 5F in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 J-002,  J-003,  JI-028,  JI-042,  JI-045,  JI-077,  JI-089,  JI-097,
 JI-118,  JI-126,  JI-135,
MCJC 5G in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-052,  JI-065,  JI-067,  JI-094,
Canon 6: A Judge Should Regularly File Reports of Compensation Received for Quasi-Judicial and Extra-Judicial Activities and of Monetary Contributions
 JI-021,  JI-037,  JI-049,  JI-063,  JI-077,  JI-110,
MCJC 6A
 JI-021,  JI-037,  JI-076,
MCJC 6B
 JI-037,
MCJC 6C
 JI-037,  JI-075,  JI-080,
Canon 7: A Judge or a Candidate for Judicial Office Should Refrain From Political Activity Inappropriate to Judicial Office
 JI-079,
MCJC 7A
 C-219,  JI-030,  JI-036,  JI-047,  JI-065,  JI-073,  JI-116,
MCJC 7A(1)(A)
 JI-010,  JI-022,  JI-030,  JI-036,  JI-053,  JI-115,  JI-121,
MCJC 7A(1)(B)
 JI-011,  JI-081,  JI-093,  JI-095,  JI-105,  JI-115,  JI-121,
MCJC 7A(2)
 JI-014,  JI-016,  JI-030,  JI-036,  JI-093,  JI-152,
MCJC 7A(2)(C)
 JI-105,
MCJC 7A(3)
 JI-010,  JI-019,  JI-059,
MCJC 7B
 C-227,  JI-007,  JI-073,  JI-074,  JI-081,  JI-090,
MCJC 7B(1)
 C-222,  JI-002,  JI-004,  JI-014,  JI-017,  JI-027,  JI-082,
MCJC 7B(1)(A)
 JI-002,  JI-014,
MCJC 7B(1)(C)
 C-238,  JI-004,  JI-058,
MCJC 7B(1)(D)
 JI-074,  JI-120,
MCJC 7B(2)
 JI-001,  JI-002,  JI-005,  JI-007,  JI-016,  JI-017,
MCJC 7B(2)(A)
 JI-104,  JI-115,  JI-152,
MCJC 7B(2)(B)
 JI-002,  JI-014,  JI-078,  JI-152,
MCJC 7B(2)(C)
 JI-001,  JI-002,  JI-005,  JI-014,  JI-060,  JI-063,  JI-152,
MCJC 7B(2)(E)
 JI-060,  JI-063,
MCJC 7C in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-063,
MCJC 7C(1) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-115,
MCJC 7C(2) in effect prior to 8/1/2013
 JI-136,
MCJC 8
 JI-136,