The Public Service Act & Code of Conduct

The Ethical Public Service Act & Code of Conduct are ethical guidelines for state employees in the judicial branch of the government.

The Ethics in Public Service Act was created in 1994 to strengthen and clarify the ethical standards applying to all employees in the judicial branch of the government. The Code of Judicial Conduct was created in 1995 to establish standards for the ethical conduct of judges and candidates for judicial office.

Ethics in Public Service Act

The Ethics in Public Service Act is considered to be Chapter 42.52 RCW. The chapter provides the Commission on Judicial Conduct with rules for the governing of all employees in the judicial branch of the state government except judges. Proceedings involving judicial state employees must proceed under the rules set forth by the Ethics Public Services Act.

Code of Judicial Conduct

The Code of Judicial Conduct consists of seven rules named canons. The statements establish standards for the ethical conduct of all judges. Proceedings involving judges must proceed under the canons as they are included in the Commission on Judicial Conduct Rules On Procedure.

Commission on Judicial Conduct Rules on Procedure

The CJCRP encompasses the actual rules and subsequent laws involving the behavior of judges. Proceedings involving judges will proceed under every rule set forth by the CJCRP.

References

• Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct: Code of Judicial Conduct
• Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct: Ethics in Public Services
• Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct: Commission on Judicial Conduct Rules of Procedure