Dear Colleagues:
The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) has adopted the attached Model Code of Conduct for State Administrative Law Judges (Code)*.
The Code’s drafters meant this as a resource and guidance document for State ALJs in dealing with ethical questions in the absence of any officially adopted ethics code for ALJs at the state level in NY. The drafters also wished to assure the independence of State ALJs in the hearing process. The New York Code for Judicial Conduct served as the major source for the provisions in the Code, although the drafters also consulted Executive Order 131 and the NAALJ Code for state ALJs.
With the Code’s adoption by NYSBA, the Executive Committee now presents the Code to the NYSALJA membership for your review and decision on whether NYSALJA should adopt or endorse the Code.
The Executive Committee makes no recommendation on this matter because many of the members of the Executive Committee were active participants in drafting the Code. We leave the matter to the NYSALJA Membership for your questions, preferences and guidance.
The Model Code is available online and can be viewed as a PDF file by clicking here.
James F. Horan
Administrative Law Judge
NYS Department of Health
[Ed. note — *Adopted and Approved by the NYSBA House of Delegates on April 4, 2009]