Canon 5A permits a judge to speak and teach on non-legal subjects in his or her avocational activities provided those activities do not detract from the dignity of his or her office or interfere with the performance of his or her judicial duties. Canon 2B is applicable to retired judges who have elected to return to the active practice of law. The committee is informed that the TAC Insurance Trust is the vehicle through which the Texas Association of Counties affords its members group health insurance. Board members serve without compensation.
Service is voluntary.
Whether county employees have a group health program is determined by the Commissioners Court of each county. This is a governmental decision and the fact that a group of counties associate themselves into a common health program does not alter the nature of the decision. This is so because it is only the respective Commissioners Courts that decide whether to join a specific health program. The committee is of the opinion that the TAC insurance trust is governmental is nature with each county delegating its authority to the trust board. The health insurance trust is involved with issues of fact and policy on matters not concerning the improvement of law, the legal system, or the administration of justice.