True or False: A municipal court clerk may participate in a trip paid for by an attorney who practices before the clerk's judge.

True or False: A municipal court clerk may participate in a trip paid for by an attorney who practices before the clerk's judge.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (B)

The behavior being tested is how ethics rules guard against conflicts of interest and appearances of bias for court staff. A municipal court clerk should not accept gifts or travel paid for by someone who has business before the court, such as an attorney who practices before the judge the clerk works with. Accepting a trip from that attorney creates an incentive or appearance that the attorney could influence, or that the clerk’s actions might be influenced, in cases before the judge. Public trust depends on avoiding such gifts, so the proper stance is to decline the trip or seek guidance to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Therefore, the statement is false.

The behavior being tested is how ethics rules guard against conflicts of interest and appearances of bias for court staff. A municipal court clerk should not accept gifts or travel paid for by someone who has business before the court, such as an attorney who practices before the judge the clerk works with. Accepting a trip from that attorney creates an incentive or appearance that the attorney could influence, or that the clerk’s actions might be influenced, in cases before the judge. Public trust depends on avoiding such gifts, so the proper stance is to decline the trip or seek guidance to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Therefore, the statement is false.