Statutes, codes, and regulations
Maryland Court Rules
Title 18 - Judges and Judicial AppointeesChapter 200 - Maryland Code of Conduct for Judicial Appointees
Rules Governing the Performance of a Judicial Appointee's Duties
Rule 18-202.4 - External Influences on Professional Conduct

Md. R. Jud. & Judi. Appts. 18-202.4

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As amended through April 5, 2024
Rule 18-202.4 - External Influences on Professional Conduct
(a) A judicial appointee shall not be swayed by public clamor or fear of criticism.
(b) A judicial appointee shall not permit family, social, political, financial, or other interests or relationships to influence the judicial appointee's official conduct or judgment.
(c) A judicial appointee shall not convey or permit others to convey the impression that any person is in a position to influence the judicial appointee.

Md. R. Jud. & Judi. Appts. 18-202.4

This Rule is derived from former Rule 2.4 of Rule 16-814(2016).

Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. 7/1/2016.

COMMENT

[1] An independent judiciary requires that judicial appointees decide matters according to the law and facts, without regard to whether particular laws or litigants are popular or unpopular with the public, the media, government officials, or the judicial appointee's friends or family. Confidence in the judiciary is eroded if a judicial appointee's decision-making is perceived to be subject to inappropriate outside influences.