(4) solicit funds for, pay an assessment to, or make a contribution* to a

political organization* or a candidate for public office; (5) attend or purchase tickets for dinners or other events sponsored by a political organization* or a candidate for public office; (6) engage in any other political activity except on behalf of measures to improve the law, legal system or the administration of justice or except as permitted under the sections of this Canon. (B) A judge or judicial candidate* shall take reasonable measures to ensure that other persons do not undertake, on behalf of the judge or judicial candidate,* any activities prohibited under paragraph (A). Comment. — Participation in Political Activities. [1] Public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary is eroded if judges or judicial candidates are perceived to be subject to political influence. Although judges and judicial candidates may register to vote as members of a political party, they are prohibited by paragraph (A)(1) from assuming leadership roles in political organizations. [2] Paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) prohibit judges and judicial candidates from making speeches on behalf of political organizations or publicly endorsing or opposing candidates for public office, respectively, to prevent them from abusing the prestige of judicial office to advance the interests of others. See Rule 1.3. [3] Although members of the families of judges and judicial candidates are free to engage in their own political activity, including running for public office, there is no “family exception” to the prohibition in paragraph (A)(3) against a judge or candidate publicly endorsing candidates for public office. A judge or judicial candidate must not become involved in, or publicly associated with, a family member’s political activity or campaign for public office. To avoid public misunderstanding, judges and judicial candidates should take, and should urge members of their families to take, reasonable steps to avoid any implica- tion that they endorse any family member’s candidacy or other political activity. [4] Judges and judicial candidates retain the right to participate in the political process as voters in both primary and general elections. For purposes of this Canon, participation in a caucus-type election procedure does not constitute public support for or endorsement of a political organization or candidate, and is not prohibited by paragraphs (A)(2) or (A)(3).