ÿWPCž ¢1øû6Z¤ÕæôÃã*¤Õ@†Þòå[Yb¶Ð7î?Èq Ýàß@TçWÄ¡â{¬B¶Ÿc󆀗;*PÎë–VÔ3$ïéˆ Kì5æãI >T…áZS“/BÂ×A>3º-äQ‹Àf¾ª•*‚dzR ö&\oÜ óM0 ×Qš P¾Ml:$ôü±ûAm²o)øœ­e-áÚ‰h-üÅǪO9*áÉ.ZŸÀüƒÛ/‰eжéZ6Æ=Íóntœ„ pnêZÚA ý G¸¶è<·šûÚ9=?ƒ~ùFÒÝÁ \Ú¨¿ØÝ×N…‹›ŒÛsñ¯sÖQã= ‹¸ªT‘Üßc÷Eñ Tn }7VfFãXÝíË¥¢0 T§I@Dzz'Ž;<¦¸$vo¾½ÉáÀu Ñý¿82XÇL¼ Ò_Эupnò²NãŠÕºQ¡WÆñ˜ÞÌñ¼Ó(¤«ˆ°§`ä<ÀÕUÕ’¹Öçjv¦X±-³cíüjú “§—ùxÍy¾]ÑÁ.€ÌTo:€"Ô_ÔNcaccÔ_Ô@Ô_ÔLawlibdnsÔ_Ô.€Ô_ÔWuaccÔ_Ô.€Ô_ÔEduÔ_Ô€(E-mail)"€€Ì€ÌSUPREME€COURT€OF€OHIO€ÌEMPLOYEE€CODE€OF€CONDUCT€Ì€ÌPURPOSE€Ì€Ì€€€€€€€€The€citizens€of€Ohio€must€have€confidence€that€the€important€matters€Ìinvolving€their€lives,€liberties,€and€property€are€decided€by€an€unbiased,€Ìfair,€and€impartial€judiciary.€€As€the€highest€court€of€the€state€of€Ohio,€Ìthe€Supreme€Court€must€be€beyond€reproach€in€all€its€operations.€€To€this€Ìend,€each€employee€must€conduct€himself€or€herself€in€a€manner€which€Ìcommands€the€confidence€of€the€citizens€of€Ohio.€€Accordingly,€every€Ìemployee€must€avoid€not€only€impropriety€but€also€the€appearance€of€Ìimpropriety.€Ì€Ì€€€€€€€€The€provisions€of€this€Code€should€be€construed€and€applied€to€Ìfurther€these€purposes.€€The€standards€set€forth€in€this€Code€shall€not€Ìaffect€or€preclude€other€more€stringent€standards€required€by€law€or€by€Ìcourt€order.€Ì€ÌAPPLICABILITY€Ì€Ì€€€€€€€€This€code€of€conduct€applies€to€each€employee€of€the€Court€and€is€Ìintended€to€provide€guidance€and€assistance€in€maintaining€the€highest€Ìethical€standards.€€If€an€employee€has€any€question€concerning€a€proposed€Ìcourse€of€conduct,€he€or€she€should€consult€his€or€her€supervisor€for€Ìfurther€direction.€Ì€ÌSECTION€I€ÌCONFIDENTIALITY€OF€COURT€BUSINESS€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€should€keep€all€legal€and€administrative€matters€before€Ìthe€Court€not€a€matter€of€public€record€in€confidence.€€An€employee€should€Ìrefrain€from€making€any€public€comment€involving€a€legal€matter€before€the€ÌCourt€that€is€not€a€matter€of€public€record.€€An€employee€should€not€Ìexpress,€to€any€person€not€an€employee€of€the€Court,€a€personal€opinion€Ìabout€a€pending€case€or€issue.€€An€employee€should€not€disclose€the€extent€Ìof€his€or€her€involvement€in€the€decision-making€process.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€should€not€release€to€the€public€any€work€product€of€the€ÌCourt€not€a€matter€of€public€record€without€the€prior€express€approval€of€Ìthe€Court.€Such€work€product€shall€remain€confidential.€€Work€product€Ìincludes,€but€is€not€limited€to,€notes,€papers,€opinions,€discussions,€Ìpreliminary€dispositions,€and€memoranda€by€any€justice,€law€clerk,€master€Ð Ð- )/ ÐÔ_Ôcommissioner,€staff€attorney,€or€other€employee.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€A€former€employee€should€refrain€from€any€comment€or€action€that€Ìwould€cause€a€loss€of€confidence€in€the€judicial€process,€the€judicial€Ìsystem,€the€Court,€or€any€justice€or€employee€of€the€Court.€Ì€ÌSECTION€II€ÌWORK€OF€FORMER€EMPLOYEE€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€The€work€product€of€a€former€employee€remains€confidential.€€Thus,€Ìif€a€law€clerk€or€master€commissioner€leaves€the€employ€of€the€Court,€he€or€Ìshe€may€be€permitted€to€take€legal€memoranda€as€part€of€a€personal€file€but€Ìshould€not€release€any€memorandum€or€draft€opinion€to€any€other€person€Ìwithout€the€written€consent€of€the€Court.€Ì€ÌSECTION€III€ÌIMPROPRIETY€AND€THE€APPEARANCE€OF€IMPROPRIETY€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€should€not€engage€in€activity€that€gives€the€appearance€Ìof€impropriety.€€An€employee€should€not€allow€family,€social,€or€other€Ìrelationships€to€influence€official€conduct€or€judgment.€€An€employee€should€Ìnot€lend€the€prestige€of€the€Court€to€advance€the€private€interests€of€Ìothers;€nor€should€an€employee€convey€or€permit€others€to€convey€the€Ìimpression€that€he€or€she€is€in€a€special€position€of€influence.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€should€respect€and€comply€with€the€law€and€should€Ìconduct€himself€or€herself€at€all€times€in€a€manner€that€promotes€public€Ìconfidence€in€the€integrity€and€impartiality€of€the€judiciary.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€should€abstain€from€public€comment€about€a€pending€or€Ìimpending€proceeding€in€the€Court€not€a€matter€of€public€record€and€should€Ìrequire€similar€abstention€on€the€part€of€anyone€under€his€or€her€Ìsupervision.€€An€employee€should€not€disclose€to€any€person€any€confidential€Ìinformation€received€in€the€course€of€official€duties,€nor€should€such€Ìinformation€be€used€for€personal€gain.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€should€avoid€any€favoritism,€unfairness,€or€nepotism€in€Ìconnection€with€the€hiring,€discharge,€or€treatment€of€subordinates.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€should€not€perform€any€discretionary€or€ministerial€Ìfunction,€including€the€assignment€of€cases,€in€a€manner€which€improperly€Ìfavors€any€person,€group,€litigant,€or€attorney,€nor€imply€that€he€or€she€is€Ìin€a€position€to€do€so.€Ì€ÌSECTION€IV€ÌPERSONAL€ACTIVITIES€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€may€write,€lecture,€teach,€and€speak€on€legal€or€Ð Ð- )/ Ðnonlegal€subjects,€and€engage€in€the€arts,€sports,€and€other€social€and€Ìrecreational€activities,€as€long€as€such€avocational€activities€do€not€Ìdetract€from€the€dignity€of€his€or€her€office,€or€the€Court,€or€interfere€Ìwith€the€performance€of€his€or€her€official€duties.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€Employees€may€participate€in€civic€and€charitable€activities€that€do€Ìnot€detract€from€the€dignity€of€the€office€or€interfere€with€the€performance€Ìof€his€or€her€official€duties.€€An€employee€may€serve€as€an€officer,€Ìdirector,€trustee,€or€nonlegal€advisor€of€an€educational,€religious,€Ìcharitable,€fraternal,€or€civic€organization€and€solicit€funds€for€any€such€Ìorganization,€subject€to€the€following€limitations:€Ì€Ì1.€€€€€€The€prestige€of€office€should€not€be€used€in€the€solicitation€of€Ìfunds.€Ì€Ì2.€€€€€€Funds€should€not€be€solicited€from€persons€likely€to€come€before€the€ÌCourt.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€employee€should€not€engage€in€financial€and€business€dealings€Ìthat€tend€to€detract€from€the€dignity€of€office,€interfere€with€the€Ìperformance€of€official€duties,€or€exploit€the€employeeò òs€official€position.€Ð 0€ ЀÌD.€€€€€€Neither€an€employee€nor€a€family€member€residing€in€the€employeeòòs€Ìhousehold€should€accept€a€gift,€bequest,€favor,€or€loan€from€any€person€Ìwhose€interests€have€come€or€are€likely€to€come€before€the€Court,€or€from€Ìany€other€person€under€circumstances€that€might€reasonably€be€regarded€as€Ìinfluencing€or€appearing€to€influence€the€performance€of€the€employeeòòs€Ìofficial€duties.€€An€employee€should€report€the€value€of€any€gift€or€Ìbequest,€other€than€from€a€relative€by€blood€or€marriage,€as€required€by€Ìlaw.€Ì€ÌSECTION€V€ÌPRACTICE€OF€LAW€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€Any€attorney€employed€by€the€Court€should€not€practice€law€in€any€Ìfederal,€state,€or€local€court,€except€in€an€official€capacity,€and€should€Ìnot€perform€legal€services€for€any€private€client€for€compensation.€€This€Ìprohibition€does€not€preclude€the€performance€of€routine€legal€work€Ìnecessary€to€the€management€of€personal€affairs€to€the€extent€that€such€Ìwork:€Ì€Ì1.€€€€€€Is€done€without€compensation;€Ì€Ì2.€€€€€€does€not€require€any€act,€including€an€appearance€in€any€court,€that€Ìwould€suggest€that€the€position€of€a€Court-employed€attorney€is€being€Ìmisused,€that€preferential€treatment€is€being€sought,€or€would€otherwise€be€Ìinconsistent€with€that€attorneyòòs€official€duties€or€primary€responsibility€Ìto€the€Court;€Ð Ð- )/ ÐÔ_Ô€Ì3.€€€€€€does€not€conflict€or€appear€to€be€in€conflict€with€Court€duties;€Ì€Ì4.€€€€€€does€not€reflect€adversely€on€the€Court€or€create€the€appearance€of€Ìimpropriety.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€attorney€may€provide€occasional€uncompensated€legal€advice€or€Ìdocument€drafting€for€relatives€or€friends.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€attorney€may€undertake€litigation€only€if€it€is€of€a€personal€or€Ìfamily€nature€and€if€such€does€not€violate€the€provisions€of€sections€Ì(A)(1),€(A)(2),€(A)(3)€and€(A)(4)€of€this€section.€Ì€ÌSECTION€VI€ÌREFUSAL€FROM€PARTICIPATION€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€A€staff€attorney€should€not€participate€in€a€matter€in€which€his€or€Ìher€impartiality€might€reasonably€be€questioned,€including€but€not€limited€Ìto€instances€in€which€the€attorney:€Ì€Ì1.€€€€€€has€a€personal€bias€or€prejudice€concerning€a€party,€or€personal€Ìknowledge€of€disputed€evidentiary€facts;€Ì€Ì2.€€€€€€has€served€as€a€lawyer€in€the€matter€in€controversy;€Ì€Ì3.€€€€€€has€previously€practiced€law€or€been€associated€with€a€lawyer€Ìconcerning€the€matter€in€controversy;€Ì€Ì4.€€€€€€has€been€a€material€witness€concerning€the€matter€in€controversy;€Ì€Ì5.€€€€€€knows€that€he€or€she,€individually€or€as€a€fiduciary,€or€his€or€her€Ìspouse€or€minor€child€residing€in€the€household:€(a)€has€a€financial€Ìinterest€in€the€subject€matter€in€controversy,€(b)€is€€party€to€the€Ìproceeding,€or€(c)€has€any€interest€that€could€be€substantially€affected€by€Ìthe€outcome€of€the€matter€in€controversy;€Ì€Ì6.€€€€€€has€served€in€governmental€employment€and€in€such€capacity€Ìparticipated€as€counsel,€advisor,€or€material€witness€concerning€the€Ìproceeding€or€expressed€an€opinion€concerning€the€merits€of€the€particular€Ìcase€in€controversy.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€A€staff€attorney€should€not€participate€in€a€matter€where€a€spouse,€Ìor€a€person€within€the€third€degree€of€relationship€to€either€of€them,€or€Ìthe€spouse€of€such€a€person:€Ì€Ì1.€€€€€€is€a€party€to€the€proceeding,€or€an€officer,€director,€or€trustee€of€Ìa€party;€Ì€Ð Ð- )/ Ð2.€€€€€€is€acting€as€a€lawyer€in€the€proceeding;€Ì€Ì3.€€€€€€is€known€by€the€staff€attorney€to€have€an€interest€that€could€be€Ìsubstantially€affected€by€the€outcome€of€the€proceeding;€Ì€Ì4.€€€€€€is€to€the€staff€attorneyòòs€knowledge€likely€to€be€a€material€witness€Ìin€the€proceeding.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€An€attorney€should€be€aware€of€all€personal€and€fiduciary€financial€Ìinterests€and€make€a€reasonable€effort€to€be€informed€about€the€personal€Ìinterests€of€the€spouse€and€minor€children€residing€in€the€attorneyòòs€Ìhousehold.€Ì€ÌSECTION€VII€ÌDEFINITIONS€Ì€ÌAs€used€in€this€code:€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€The€degree€of€relationship€is€calculated€according€to€the€civil€law€Ìsystem;€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€óóóóóóóóóóó óFiduciaryòò€includes€such€relationships€as€executor,€administrator,€Ð ` Ðtrustee,€and€guardian;€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€Financial€interestòŽò€means€ownership€of€a€legal€or€equitable€Ìinterest,€however€small,€or€a€relationship€as€director,€advisor,€or€other€Ìactive€participant€in€the€affairs€of€a€party,€except:€Ì€Ì1.€€€€€€ownership€in€a€mutual€or€common€investment€fund€that€holds€Ìsecurities€unless€the€attorney€participates€in€the€management€of€the€fund;€Ì€Ì2.€€€€€€an€office€in€an€educational,€religious,€charitable,€fraternal,€or€Ìcivil€organization€is€not€a€financial€interestòŽò€in€securities€held€by€the€Ìorganization;€Ì€Ì3.€€€€€€the€proprietary€interest€of€a€policy€holder€in€a€mutual€insurance€Ìcompany,€of€a€depositor€in€a€mutual€savings€association,€or€a€similar€Ìproprietary€interest,€is€a€financial€interestòŽò€in€the€organization€only€if€Ìthe€outcome€of€the€proceeding€could€substantially€affect€the€value€of€the€Ìinterest;€Ì€Ì4.€€€€€€ownership€of€government€securities€is€a€financial€interestòŽò€in€the€Ìissuer€only€if€the€outcome€of€the€proceeding€could€substantially€affect€the€Ìvalue€of€the€securities.€Ì€ÌA.€€€€€€ProceedingòŽò€includes€pretrial,€trial,€appellate€review,€or€other€Ìstages€of€litigation.€Ì€Ð Ð- )/ ÐE.€€€€€€Staff€attorneyòŽò€includes€any€attorney€employed€by€the€Court€and€Ìinterns.€Ì€Ì_______________________________________________€ÌNCACC€mailing€list€ÌNCACC@lawdns.wuacc.edu€Ìhttp://lawdns.wuacc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ncacc€Ì