QUESTION: Would it be a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct for a constitutional county judge to be an ex officio member of a private non-profit corporation created for the purpose of increasing economic development in the judge's county. The corporation solicits funds to sustain its operational costs.

ANSWER: The corporation appears to be engaged in a function that is highly beneficial to a county. A county judge, in his administrative capacity as titular head of the county commissioners court, has a duty to encourage projects which are beneficial to his or her county. Canon 8C(1) of the Code permits a county judge to engage in such activities so long as they relate to the administration of the county.

The committee is of the opinion that it would not be a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct for the judge to be a member provided the judge does not personally solicit funds (Canon 4C), or lend the prestige of his office for that purpose, and further provided no other canons of the Code are violated.