POLITICAL AND CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES OF JUDICIAL CANDIDATES

IN RETENTION ELECTIONS (A) A judicial candidate* in a retention election shall: (1) act at all times in a manner consistent with the independence,* integrity,* and impartiality* of the judiciary; (2) comply with all applicable election, election campaign, and election campaign fund-raising laws, regulations of Iowa, and this Code; (3) review and approve the content of all campaign statements and materials produced by the candidate or his or her campaign committee, as authorized by rule 51:4.4, before their dissemination; and (4) take reasonable measures to ensure that other persons do not undertake on behalf of the judicial candidate activities, other than those described in rule 51:4.4, that the candidate is prohibited from doing by rule 51:4.1. (B) A judicial candidate in a retention election may, unless prohibited by law*: (1) establish a campaign committee pursuant to the provisions of rule 51:4.4; (2) speak on behalf of his or her candidacy through any medium, including, but not limited to, advertisements, websites, or other campaign literature; and (3) seek, accept, or use endorsements from any person or organization other than a partisan political organization. Comment [1] Paragraph (B) permits judicial candidates in retention elections to engage in some political and campaign activities otherwise prohibited by rule 51:4.1. [2] Despite paragraph (B), judicial candidates for retention election remain subject to many of the provisions of rule 51:4.1. For example, a candidate continues to be prohibited from soliciting funds for a political organization, knowingly making false or misleading statements during a campaign, or making certain promises, pledges, or commitments related to future adjudicative duties. See rule 51:4.1(A), paragraphs (4), (11), and (13). [3] In retention elections, paragraph (B)(3) prohibits a candidate from seeking, accepting, or using nominations or endorsements from a partisan political organization. [Court Order April 30, 2010, effective May 3, 2010]