Which statement is true regarding the use of city telephones by a judge?

• A. A municipal judge may use a city telephone to make local personal telephone calls.
• B. A municipal judge may use a city telephone only for official court business.
• C. A municipal judge may not use a city telephone at all.
• D. A municipal judge may use a city telephone for any purpose without restrictions.

Answer: (A)

Public resources are meant to support official duties, but a reasonable allowance for incidental personal use is generally recognized. The best choice reflects that a municipal judge can use a city telephone for local personal calls as long as those calls are brief and do not impose costs or distractions on official duties. This balanced approach avoids being too restrictive (only official business) or too permissive (unrestricted use) and recognizes that local, minor personal calls are typically acceptable. Long-distance or costly personal calls would usually be inappropriate or would require reimbursement, while prohibiting any use would be unnecessarily harsh and impractical for everyday life.