Traveling free to Las Vegas on a law firm's private plane where the firm frequently handles traffic tickets in your court is proper or improper conduct?

• A. Improper
• B. Proper
• C. Not specified
• D. Depends on circumstances

Answer: (A)

Accepting gifts or favors from someone who has business before the court can create or appear to create bias, which is exactly what clerks must avoid. In this scenario, traveling free on a law firm's private plane is a substantial personal benefit from a firm that routinely handles traffic tickets in your court. Even without any pressure or quid pro quo, the opportunity for influence or the appearance of impropriety is enough to violate rules that require independence and impartiality. Therefore, this is improper conduct. It wouldn’t be considered proper, not specified, or dependent on circumstances in this typical case, because the relationship itself creates a problematic appearance.