Rules of Court · Part 1 · New Jersey
Canon 3 New Jersey Rules of Court, Canon 3: Part 1 Appendix (CCJE): Canon 3, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked
Part 1 Appendix (CCJE): Canon 3
Canon 3 -- Avoiding Actual or Apparent Impropriety
A court employee shall observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the courts may be preserved, and shall avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety.
Comment: The holding of public employment in the court system is a public trust. That trust is sustained by conduct that maintains the confidence of the citizenry in the integrity of officers and employees of the judicial branch.
Guideline: In light of the injunction to "avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety" judiciary employees must not risk: (1) subjecting themselves to improper influences; (2) participating in activities or allowing themselves to be used in such manner as to impair the dignity and esteem in which the court should be held.
Specifically a judiciary employee shall not:
(a) Use or attempt to use the official position or the prestige of judicial affiliation to secure special privileges or exemptions for the employee or for others. For example, an employee shall not use official letterhead for private business correspondence, write letters of recommendation on official letterhead (other than when requested to give a reference on current or former co-workers or subordinates seeking new employment), nor carry a judiciary business card unless authorized by the appointing authority.
(b) Solicit, accept, or agree to accept any gifts, loans, gratuities, discounts, favors, hospitality, or services directly or indirectly from any attorney or other person who has had or is likely to have any professional or official transaction with such employee or with the employee's court or office.
(c) Solicit, accept or agree to accept any gifts, loans, gratuities, discounts, favors, hospitality, or services from anyone:
(1) based on any understanding, whether explicit or implicit, that the official actions, decisions, or judgment of any employee would be influenced thereby;
(2) under circumstances from which one reasonably could infer that the purpose of the donor is to influence the court employee in the performance of official duties.
(d) Dispense special favors to anyone, whether or not for remuneration, nor be or appear to be unduly affected by favoritism, cronyism, kinship, rank, position, or influence of any person in the discharge of official duties.
(e) Request or accept any outside fee or additional compensation for advice or assistance given in the course of the employment.
Guideline: Each employee shall use the resources, property, and funds under the employee's official control solely for official purposes.
Note: Canon 3 adopted December 7, 1993, to be effective immediately.
Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.
rule Canon 3 "Part 1 Appendix (CCJE): Canon 3" {
Canon 3 -- Avoiding Actual or Apparent Impropriety
A court employee shall observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the courts may be preserved, and shall avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety.
Comment: The holding of public employment in the court system is a public trust. That trust is sustained by conduct that maintains the confidence of the citizenry in the integrity of officers and employees of the judicial branch.
Guideline: In light of the injunction to "avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety" judiciary employees must not risk: (1) subjecting themselves to improper influences; (2) participating in activities or allowing themselves to be used in such manner as to impair the dignity and esteem in which the court should be held.
Specifically a judiciary employee shall not:
(a) Use or attempt to use the official position or the prestige of judicial affiliation to secure special privileges or exemptions for the employee or for others. For example, an employee shall not use official letterhead for private business correspondence, write letters of recommendation on official letterhead (other than when requested to give a reference on current or former co-workers or subordinates seeking new employment), nor carry a judiciary business card unless authorized by the appointing authority.
(b) Solicit, accept, or agree to accept any gifts, loans, gratuities, discounts, favors, hospitality, or services directly or indirectly from any attorney or other person who has had or is likely to have any professional or official transaction with such employee or with the employee's court or office.
(c) Solicit, accept or agree to accept any gifts, loans, gratuities, discounts, favors, hospitality, or services from anyone:
(1) based on any understanding, whether explicit or implicit, that the official actions, decisions, or judgment of any employee would be influenced thereby;
(2) under circumstances from which one reasonably could infer that the purpose of the donor is to influence the court employee in the performance of official duties.
(d) Dispense special favors to anyone, whether or not for remuneration, nor be or appear to be unduly affected by favoritism, cronyism, kinship, rank, position, or influence of any person in the discharge of official duties.
(e) Request or accept any outside fee or additional compensation for advice or assistance given in the course of the employment.
Guideline: Each employee shall use the resources, property, and funds under the employee's official control solely for official purposes.
Note: Canon 3 adopted December 7, 1993, to be effective immediately.
}
referenced_by: none
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-11-05; corpus harvested 2026-09-02← Canon 2 · Canon 4 → · Canon · all rules
The Rules of Court are a government edict and carry no copyright; the text above is the Judiciary’s own publication, unchanged. Structure, links and highlighting are ours and carry no legal weight. Read the rule on njcourts.gov before you rely on it; amendments take effect each September 1.