Talking to defendants about who will be the best candidate for mayor is improper conduct for a clerk.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. It depends

Answer: (A)

Clerks must maintain political neutrality and avoid discussing elections with defendants. Engaging a defendant in conversation about who would be the best mayor candidate is improper because it can sway their views, or appear to sway them, and it undermines the perceived fairness of the proceedings. The clerk’s role is to assist the court in a neutral, nonpartisan way, not to advocate for or against political candidates. If a defendant asks about politics, the appropriate response is to provide neutral information or redirect to nonpartisan civic resources, not to share personal opinions or endorsements. Because neutrality is required in this role, this kind of political discussion is never appropriate.