Case Title: In Re: Amendments to the Code of Judicial Conduct

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC17-680

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2017-05-18T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC17-680 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT. 
 
[May 18, 2017] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Court, on its own motion, amends the Code of Judicial Conduct (Code) 
to clarify the public financial and gift disclosure requirements for judges, and to 
reiterate that the filing of the public financial disclosure reports required by the 
Code is the only public disclosure of financial interests, compensation, gifts, or 
other benefits a judge or justice is required to make.1  We adopt these clarifying 
amendments in response to uncertainty as to some of the reporting requirements 
expressed by some judges. 
 
When the Court first adopted the Code of Judicial Conduct in 1973, it made 
clear that the financial reporting requirements of the Code “supersede[] the 
requirements of any statute relating to financial reporting and it will not be 
                                          
 
 
1.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
 
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necessary for the justices and judges to file reports under any statute since such 
reports are filed under Canon 6.”  In re The Florida Bar—Code of Judicial 
Conduct, 281 So. 2d 21, 22 (Fla. 1973).  In 1977, the Court amended Canon 6 in 
response to the adoption of the full and public financial disclosure requirements of 
article II, section 8, of the Florida Constitution.  At that time, the Court also added 
the current Canons 5 and 6 gift reporting requirements, recognizing in the 
Commentary to Canon 6 that the reporting required in Canons 5 and 6 is “in lieu of 
that prescribed” in Chapter 112, as stated in the Court’s 1973 opinion.  See In re 
Code of Judicial Conduct (Financial Disclosure), 348 So. 2d 891, 893 (Fla. 1977).  
The current Commentary to Canon 6 discussing the required financial disclosure 
reports reads substantially the same. 
In response to the recent uncertainty as to certain reporting requirements,2 
we have reviewed Canons 5D(5)(a) (Financial Activities; Gifts), 6A 
(Compensation for Quasi-Judicial and Extrajudicial Services and Reimbursement 
of Expenses), and 6B (Public Financial Reporting) of the Code, as well as this 
Court’s prior opinions, and we conclude that the ethical requirements imposed on 
judges and justices by the Code, including the financial and gift reporting 
                                          
 
 
2.  The Court thanks the Code of Judicial Conduct Workgroup, appointed by 
Chief Justice Labarga, for its report, which, together with the uncertainties raised, 
led to the Court’s review of the pertinent canons. 
 
 
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requirements, remain the standard of conduct and of reporting for the judicial 
branch.  The stated expectations of conduct ensure the overarching purpose of our 
Code of Judicial Conduct, which, as stated in the Preamble to the Code, is to 
establish “standards for ethical conduct of judges” in order to ensure “an 
independent, fair and competent judiciary” and “to enhance and maintain 
confidence in our legal system.”  Accordingly, we add a new Commentary to 
Canon 6 to reiterate that “[t]he filing of the disclosure reports required under 
Canon 6B is the only public disclosure of financial interests, compensation, gifts, 
expense reimbursements, or other benefits that a judge is required to make under 
this Code or the Florida Constitution.  By filing the required disclosure reports, a 
judge fulfills all the expectations of conduct, and ethical and constitutional 
requirements related to such disclosure.” 
We also amend Canons 5D(5)(a), 6A, and 6B(2) of the Code.  The 
amendments to Canon 5D(5)(a) (Financial Activities; Gifts) and its commentary 
clarify that the attendance, without charge, of a bar-related event such as a bar-
related lunch, dinner, or social event such as a reception or Law Day event does 
not have to be reported as a gift as long as the actual value of attending the 
individual event does not exceed $100, despite the fact that the aggregate value of 
attending such functions or events given by the same bar association or other entity 
in the same calendar year exceeds $100.  Even though a judge must report 
 
 
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attending, without charge, a bar-related event if the value of attending that event 
exceeds $100, we encourage all judges to continue to attend, whenever possible, 
these events which allow our judges to meet with members of the Bar. 
The amendments to Canon 6A (Compensation for Quasi-Judicial and 
Extrajudicial Services and Reimbursement of Expenses) clarify that: (a) allowed 
compensation is reportable income under Canon 6B(1); (b) honoraria and speaking 
fees may be accepted and are reportable income under Canon 6B(1); and (c) 
reimbursement of expenses over the actual cost of the expenses incurred also is 
reportable income under Canon 6B(1).  Additionally, Canons 6A and 6B(2) (Public 
Financial Reporting; Gifts) and the Commentary to Canon 6 are amended to 
require that reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred or the direct payment 
for a judge’s travel, food, lodging, and other expenses in connection with the 
judge’s participation in quasi-judicial and extrajudicial activities permitted by this 
Code is not a gift, but shall be reported under Canon 6B(2), as amended, if the 
amount of the reimbursement, payment, or waiver alone or in the aggregate with 
other reimbursements, payments, or waivers received from the same source in the 
same calendar year exceeds $100. 
Accordingly, we amend the Code of Judicial Conduct, as reflected in the 
appendix to this opinion.  New language is indicated by underscoring and deletions 
are indicated by struck-through type.  The amendments are effective, nunc pro 
 
 
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tunc, January 1, 2017, with the first disclosure reports under the amended canons 
due on or before July 1, 2018.  Because the amendments were not published for 
comment prior to their adoption, interested persons shall have sixty days from the 
date of this opinion in which to file comments with the Court.3  The Court 
specifically requests comments from the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, the 
Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges, the Conference of Circuit Court 
Judges, and the Conference of County Court Judges. 
It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, 
and LAWSON, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
Original Proceeding – The Code of Judicial Conduct 
 
                                          
 
3.  All comments must be filed with the Court on or before July 17, 2017, 
with a separate request for oral argument if the person filing the comment wishes 
to participate in oral argument which may be scheduled in this case.  If filed by an 
attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar, the comment must be 
electronically filed via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (Portal) in accordance 
with In re Electronic Filing in the Supreme Court of Florida via the Florida Courts 
E-Filing Portal, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC13-7 (Feb. 18, 2013).  If filed by a 
nonlawyer or a lawyer not licensed to practice in Florida, the comment may be, but 
is not required to be, filed via the Portal.  Comments filed via the Portal must be 
submitted in Microsoft Word 97 or higher.  See In re Electronic Filing in the 
Florida Supreme Court, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC17-27 (May 9, 2017).  Any 
person unable to submit a comment electronically must mail or hand-deliver the 
originally signed comment to the Florida Supreme Court, Office of the Clerk, 500 
South Duval Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1927; no additional copies are 
required or will be accepted. 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
CANON 5. A Judge Shall Regulate Extrajudicial Activities to Minimize the 
Risk of Conflict with Judicial Duties 
A. – C. 
[No Change] 
D. 
Financial Activities. 
(1) – (4) 
[No Change] 
(5) 
A judge shall not accept, and shall urge members of the judge’s family 
residing in the judge’s household not to accept, a gift, bequest, favor or loan from 
anyone except for: 
(a) 
 a gift incident to a public testimonial, books, tapes and other resource 
materials supplied by publishers on a complimentary basis for official use, or an 
invitation to the judge and the judge’s spouse or guest to attend a bar-related 
function or an activity devoted to the improvement of the law, the legal system, or 
the administration of justice, including attending, without charge, a bar-related 
lunch, dinner, or social event; and if the value of attending an individual function 
or event exceeds $100, the judge shall report it under Canon 6B(2); 
(b) 
a gift, award or benefit incident to the business, profession or other 
separate activity of a spouse or other family member of a judge residing in the 
judge’s household, including gifts, awards and benefits for the use of both the 
spouse or other family member and the judge (as spouse or family member), 
provided the gift, award or benefit could not reasonably be perceived as intended 
to influence the judge in the performance of judicial duties; 
(c) 
ordinary social hospitality; 
(d) 
a gift from a relative or friend, for a special occasion, such as a 
wedding, anniversary or birthday, if the gift is fairly commensurate with the 
occasion and the relationship; 
(e) 
a gift, bequest, favor or loan from a relative or close personal friend 
whose appearance or interest in a case would in any event require disqualification 
under Canon 3E; 
(f) 
a loan from a lending institution in its regular course of business on 
the same terms generally available to persons who are not judges; 
 
 
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(g) 
a scholarship or fellowship awarded on the same terms and based on 
the same criteria applied to other applicants; or 
(h) 
any other gift, bequest, favor or loan, only if: the donor is not a party 
or other person who has come or is likely to come or whose interests have come or 
are likely to come before the judge; and, if its value, or the aggregate value in a 
calendar year of such gifts, bequests, favors, or loans from a single source, exceeds 
$100.00, the judge reports it in the same manner as the judge reports gifts under 
Canon 6B(2). 
E. – G. 
[No Change] 
COMMENTARY 
Canons 5A. – 5D(5). [No Change] 
Canon 5D(5)(a). Acceptance of an invitation to a law-related function is governed 
by Canon 5D(5)(a); acceptance of an invitation paid for by an individual lawyer or 
group of lawyers is governed by Canon 5D(5)(h). 
The attendance, without charge, of a bar-related lunch, dinner, or social event such 
as a reception or Law Day event does not have to be reported under Canon 6B(2), 
as long as the actual value of attending the individual function or event does not 
exceed $100, despite the fact that the aggregate value of attending such functions 
or events given by the same bar association or other entity in the same calendar 
year exceeds $100. This differs from Rule 3.15 of the American Bar Association 
Model Code of Judicial Conduct (2011), which requires the reporting of such 
attendance if the value of attending such functions or events alone or in the 
aggregate from the same source in the same calendar year exceeds a specified 
amount. 
A judge may accept a public testimonial or a gift incident thereto only if the donor 
organization is not an organization whose members comprise or frequently 
represent the same side in litigation, and the testimonial and gift are otherwise in 
compliance with other provisions of this Code. See Canons 5A(1) and 2B. 
Canons 5D(5)(d) – 5G. [No Change] 
 
 
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CANON 6. Fiscal Matters of a Judge Shall be Conducted in a Manner That 
Does Not Give the Appearance of Influence or Impropriety; a Judge Shall 
Regularly File Public Reports as Required by Article II, Section 8, of the 
Constitution of Florida, and Shall Publicly Report Gifts, Expense 
Reimbursements and Payments, and Waivers of Fees or Charges; Additional 
Financial Information Shall be Filed With the Judicial Qualifications 
Commission to Ensure Full Financial Disclosure 
A. 
Compensation for Quasi-Judicial and Extrajudicial Services, and 
Reimbursement or Payment of Expenses, and Waiver of Fees or Charges. 
A judge may receiveaccept compensation, and reimbursement, or direct payment 
of expenses, and a waiver or partial waiver of fees or charges for registration, 
tuition, and similar items for the associated with the judge’s participation in quasi-
judicial and extrajudicial activities permitted by this Code, if the source of such 
payments, or waiver does not give the appearance of influencing the judge in the 
performance of judicial duties or otherwise give the appearance of impropriety, 
subject to the following restrictions: 
(1) 
Compensation. Compensation shall not exceed a reasonable amount nor 
shall it exceed what a person who is not a judge would receive for the same 
activity. Compensation is reportable as income under Canon 6B(1). 
(2) 
Honoraria and Speaking Fees.  A judge may accept honoraria and speaking 
fees that are reasonable and commensurate with the task performed. Honoraria and 
speaking fees are reportable as income under Canon 6B(1). 
(3) 
Reimbursement or Payment of Expenses, and Waiver of Fees or Charges 
Reimbursement.  Expense reimbursement shall be limited to the actual cost of 
travel, food, and lodging reasonably incurred by the judge and, where appropriate 
to the occasion, to the judge’s spouse. Any payment in excess of such an amount is 
compensation and is reportable as income under Canon 6B(1). Reimbursement or 
direct payment of expenses, and waiver or partial waiver of fees or charges for the 
judge or the judge’s spouse or guest, the amount of which alone or in the aggregate 
with other reimbursements, payments, or waivers received from the same source in 
the same calendar year exceeds $100, shall be reported under Canon 6B(2). 
 
 
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B. 
Public Financial Reporting. 
(1) 
Income and Assets. A judge shall file such public report as may be required 
by law for all public officials to comply fully with the provisions of Article II, 
Section 8, of the Constitution of Florida. The form for public financial disclosure 
shall be that recommended or adopted by the Florida Commission on Ethics for use 
by all public officials. The form shall be filed with the Florida Commission on 
Ethics on the date prescribed by law, and a copy shall be filed simultaneously with 
the Judicial Qualifications Commission. 
(2) 
Gifts, Reimbursements or Payments of Expenses, and Waivers of Fees or 
Charges. A judge shall file a public report of all gifts which are required to be 
disclosed under Canons 5D(5)(a) and 5D(5)(h) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, 
and of all reimbursements or direct payments of expenses, and waivers of fees or 
charges required to be disclosed under Canon 6A(3). The report of the gifts, 
expense reimbursements or direct payments, and waivers received in the preceding 
calendar year shall be filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics on or before 
July 1 of each year. Disclosure shall be made using Form 6A in the commentary 
below. A copy shall be filed simultaneously with the Judicial Qualifications 
Commission. 
(3) 
[No Change] 
C. – D. 
[No Change] 
COMMENTARY 
Canon 6A. See Section 5D(5)(a)–(h) regarding reporting of gifts, bequests and 
loans. 
The Code does not prohibit a judge from accepting honoraria or speaking fees 
provided that the compensation is reasonable and commensurate with the task 
performed. A judge should ensure, however, that no conflicts are created by the 
arrangement. Judges must not appear to trade on the judicial position for personal 
advantage. Nor should a judge spend significant time away from court duties to 
meet speaking or writing commitments for compensation. In addition, the source of 
the payment must not raise any question of undue influence or the judge’s ability 
or willingness to be impartial. 
The reporting requirement for expense reimbursements and payments, and waivers 
of fees or charges is similar to the reporting requirement for expense 
reimbursements and waivers in Rule 3.15(A)(3) of the American Bar Association 
 
 
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Model Code of Judicial Conduct (2011), in that reimbursements, payments, and 
waivers must be reported if the amount of reimbursement, payment, or waiver, 
alone or in the aggregate with other reimbursements, payments, or waivers 
received from the same source in the same calendar year, exceeds the specified 
amount of $100. However, unlike the model rule, the amount of a reportable 
reimbursement, payment, or waiver does not have to be reported on Form 6A, but 
the dates, location, and purpose of the event or activity for which expenses, fees, or 
charges were reimbursed, paid, or waived must be reported. 
Canons 6B and 6C. Subparagraph A prescribes guidelines for additional 
compensation, and the reimbursements, or direct payments of expenses, fundsand 
waivers of fees or charges receivedaccepted by a judge. 
Subparagraphs B and C prescribe the three types of financial disclosure reports 
required of each judicial officer. The filing of the disclosure reports required under 
Canon 6B is the only public disclosure of financial interests, compensation, gifts, 
expense reimbursements, or other benefits that a judge is required to make under 
this Code or the Florida Constitution. By filing the required disclosure reports, a 
judge fulfills all the expectations of conduct, and ethical and constitutional 
requirements related to such disclosure. 
The first disclosure report is the Ethics Commission’s constitutionally required 
form pursuant to Article II, Section 8, of the Constitution. It must be filed each 
year as prescribed by law. The financial reporting period is for the previous 
calendar year. A final disclosure statement generally is required when a judge 
leaves office. The filing of the income tax return is a permissible alternative. 
The second is a report of gifts, reimbursements or direct payments of expenses, and 
waivers of fees or charges receivedaccepted during the preceding calendar year to 
be filed publicly with the Florida Commission on Ethics. The gifts to be reported 
are in accordance with Canons 5D(5)(a) and 5D(5)(h). The expense 
reimbursements and payments, and waivers to be reported are in accordance with 
Canon 6A(3). This reporting is in lieu of that prescribed by statute as stated in the 
Supreme Court’s opinion rendered in In re Code of Judicial Conduct, 281 So. 2d 
21 (Fla. 1973). The form for this report is as follows: 
 
 
 
 
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Form 6A.  Disclosure of Gifts, Expense Reimbursements or Payments, and 
Waivers of Fees and Charges Disclosure 
All judicial officers must file with the Florida Commission on Ethics a list of 
all reportable gifts, reimbursements or direct payments of expenses, and waivers of 
fees or charges receivedaccepted during the preceding calendar year of a value in 
excess of $100.00 as provided in Canons 5D(5)(a) and 5D(5)(h), and Canon 6A(3), 
and Canon 6B(2) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, by date received, description 
(including dates, location, and purpose of event or activity for which expenses, 
fees, or charges were reimbursed, paid, or waived), source’s name, and amount for 
gifts only. 
Name:  
 
 
 
 
Work Telephone:   
 
 
 
Work Address:  
 
 
 
 
PositionJudicial Office Held:   
 
 
1.  Please identify all reportable gifts, bequests, favors, or loans you received 
during the preceding calendar year of a value in excess $100.00, as required by 
Canons 5D(5)(a), 5D(5)(h), and Canon 6B(2) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DATE 
DESCRIPTION 
SOURCE 
AMOUNT 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
□ Check here if continued on separate sheet 
 
 
 
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2.  Please identify all reportable reimbursements or direct payments of expenses, 
and waivers of fees or charges you received during the preceding calendar year, as 
required by Canons 6A(3) and 6B(2) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 
 
DATE 
DESCRIPTION 
(Include dates, location, and purpose of 
event or activity for which expenses, fees, 
or charges were reimbursed, paid, or 
waived) 
SOURCE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
□ Check here if continued on separate sheet 
 
 
OATH 
State of Florida 
County of   
 
 
I,  
 
 
 
, the public official filing this disclosure statement, being 
first duly sworn, do depose on oath and say that the facts set forth in the above 
statement are true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Signature of Reporting Official) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Signature of Officer Authorized to Administer Oaths) 
 
My Commission expires   
 
 
 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 
 
 
 
 day of  
 
 
 
, 20 
 
 
 
 
 
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COMMENTARY 
The third financial disclosure report is prescribed in subparagraph C. This 
provision ensures that there will be complete financial information for all judicial 
officers available with the Judicial Qualifications Commission by requiring that 
full disclosure be filed confidentially with the Judicial Qualifications Commission 
in the event the limited disclosure alternative is selected under the provisions of 
Article II, Section 8. 
The amendment to this Canon requires in 6B(2) a separate gift report to be 
filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics on or before July 1 of each year. The 
form to be used for that report is included in the commentary to Canon 6. It should 
be noted that Canon 5, as it presently exists, restricts and prohibits the 
receiptacceptance of certain gifts. This provision is not applicable to other public 
officials. 
With reference to financial disclosure, if the judge chooses the limited 
disclosure alternative available under the provision of Article II, Section 8, of the 
Constitution of Florida, without the inclusion of the judge’s Federal Income Tax 
Return, then the judge must file with the Commission a list of the names of 
corporations or other business entities in which the judge has a financial interest 
even though the amount is less than $1,000. This information remains confidential 
until a request is made by a party to a cause before the judge. This latter provision 
continues to ensure that complete financial information for all judicial officers is 
available with the Judicial Qualifications Commission and that parties who are 
concerned about a judge’s possible financial interest have a means of obtaining 
that information as it pertains to a particular cause before the judge. 
Canon 6D. [No Change]