Advisory Opinion: 1699

Year Issued: 1997

RPC(s): RPC 1.11; 1.12

Subject: Conflict of interest; lawyer employed as bailiff appearing before other judges

I have been instructed by the RPC Committee to respond to your ethics inquiry regarding whether there is a conflict of interest in appearing before family law commissioners and civil I.C. judges, while employed by King County as a bailiff in criminal court as follows:

In the absence of any specific conflicts, and with the appropriate consents and approvals from clients and opposing counsel, it is not a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct to appear before court commissioners and judges as a private practitioner, while employed by the county as a bailiff in criminal court.

Advisory Opinions are provided for the education of the Bar and reflect the opinion of the Committee on Professional Ethics (CPE) or its predecessors. Advisory Opinions are provided pursuant to the authorization granted by the Board of Governors, but are not individually approved by the Board and do not reflect the official position of the Bar association. Laws other than the Washington State Rules of Professional Conduct may apply to the inquiry. The Committee's answer does not include or opine about any other applicable law other than the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct.