Rules of Court · Part 1 · New Jersey
Canon 4 New Jersey Rules of Court, Canon 4: Part 1 Appendix (CJC): Canon 4, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked
Part 1 Appendix (CJC): Canon 4
Canon 4
A judge may engage in activities to improve the law, the legal system and the administration of justice
Rule 4 Activities Related to the Judicial Function
A judge, subject to the proper performance of judicial duties, may engage in the following related activities if in doing so the judge does not cast doubt on the judge's capacity to decide impartially any issue that may come before the court and provided the judge is not compensated therefor:
(a) A judge may speak, write, lecture and participate in other activities concerning the law, the legal system and the administration of justice.
(b) A judge may teach concerning the law, the legal system and the administration of justice.
(c) A judge may serve as a member, officer or director of a nongovernmental organization devoted to the improvement of the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice, but may not assist the organization in raising funds or participate in their management and investment. A full-time judge may participate as a member of a local or state bar association, but may not serve as an officer or trustee, and may only serve on committees of the association subject to such conditions as determined by the New Jersey Supreme Court.
(d) A judge may encourage lawyers to provide pro bono legal services.
Comment: A judge is in a unique position to contribute to the improvement of the law, the legal system and the administration of justice, including revision of substantive and procedural law and improvement of the justice system. To the extent that time permits, a judge is encouraged to do so through a bar association, judicial conference, other organization dedicated to the improvement of the law or through an appropriate judicial official charged with administrative responsibility by the Rules of Court.
Nothing herein shall preclude a judge from serving as an officer of the Inns of Court. If guidance is required as to the application of this Canon, judges should consult with the Advisory Committee on Extrajudicial Activities.
Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.
rule Canon 4 "Part 1 Appendix (CJC): Canon 4" {
Canon 4
A judge may engage in activities to improve the law, the legal system and the administration of justice
Rule 4 Activities Related to the Judicial Function
A judge, subject to the proper performance of judicial duties, may engage in the following related activities if in doing so the judge does not cast doubt on the judge's capacity to decide impartially any issue that may come before the court and provided the judge is not compensated therefor:
(a) A judge may speak, write, lecture and participate in other activities concerning the law, the legal system and the administration of justice.
(b) A judge may teach concerning the law, the legal system and the administration of justice.
(c) A judge may serve as a member, officer or director of a nongovernmental organization devoted to the improvement of the law, the legal system, or the administration of justice, but may not assist the organization in raising funds or participate in their management and investment. A full-time judge may participate as a member of a local or state bar association, but may not serve as an officer or trustee, and may only serve on committees of the association subject to such conditions as determined by the New Jersey Supreme Court.
(d) A judge may encourage lawyers to provide pro bono legal services.
Comment: A judge is in a unique position to contribute to the improvement of the law, the legal system and the administration of justice, including revision of substantive and procedural law and improvement of the justice system. To the extent that time permits, a judge is encouraged to do so through a bar association, judicial conference, other organization dedicated to the improvement of the law or through an appropriate judicial official charged with administrative responsibility by the Rules of Court.
Nothing herein shall preclude a judge from serving as an officer of the Inns of Court. If guidance is required as to the application of this Canon, judges should consult with the Advisory Committee on Extrajudicial Activities.
}
referenced_by: none
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-11-05; corpus harvested 2026-09-02← Canon 3 CJC · Canon 5 → · 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.