Is it proper or improper for a clerk to tell a friend that the judge is sensitive to defendants who have children who are not good drivers because his son has a heavy foot and is likely to grant her daughter the right to take a driving safety course under the discretionary provisions?

• A. Proper
• B. Neither
• C. Improper
• D. Both

Answer: (C)

Disclosing and discussing a judge’s potential bias with an outsider, especially by tying it to personal family circumstances, is improper. Court staff are expected to maintain neutrality and protect the integrity of judicial decisions. Sharing such speculation about how a judge might rule, or suggesting that personal factors could sway a discretionary decision, creates an appearance of impropriety and opens the door to outside influence. It can undermine public trust in the fairness of the courts and may violate ethical rules governing court employees. When concerns about judicial conduct arise, they should be handled through proper, official channels, not in casual conversations with friends.