Judicial Ethics Advisory Board

Pursuant to its constitutional, statutory and inherent authority as set forth in Section 10(c) of Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and in 42 Pa.C.S. Sections 1722 and 1723, the Supreme Court established the Judicial Ethics Advisory Board.

As a unified body, independent from the judicial conduct structures of the Judicial Conduct Board and Court of Judicial Discipline, the Judicial Ethics Advisory Board (JEAB) is charged with rendering advisory opinions concerning proper conduct under the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges.

Mission Statement

To ensure the continued integrity and public trust of Pennsylvania’s judiciary, the Judicial Ethics Advisory Board will provide prompt, reliable, and consistent advice upon request of any judicial officer or judicial candidate.

Responsibilities

The JEAB is tasked, in part, with the authority to:

• Render advisory opinions regarding proper judicial conduct under the Codes. The Board may not issue an advisory opinion interpreting a judicial officer’s obligations under any provision of law that does not relate to judicial ethics.

• Adopt regulations pertaining to its processes, which regulations shall not be inconsistent with these rules and shall be subject to approval by the Supreme Court.

• Develop a course of training in judicial ethics, which course shall be subject to approval by the Judicial Education Board, and which must be completed by every Board member prior to beginning service on the Board.

• Make recommendations to the Supreme Court regarding amendments to the Codes and these rules.

• Make recommendations to the Continuing Judicial Education Board and the Minor Judiciary Education Board regarding topics for judicial education.

• Undertake such other related duties as may be requested of the Board by the Supreme Court.

• Report a summary of its activities to the Supreme Court on an annual basis.

Board Members

LINDA ROVDER FLEMING, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Cambria County - Chair
STEPHEN P. B. MINOR, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Potter County - Vice-Chair
DAVID J. BARTON, Judge of the Allegheny County Magisterial District Court
JENNIFER J.P. CLANCY, Judge of the York County Magisterial District Court
MARK D. DOUPLE, Judge of the Bucks County Magisterial District Court
LORI A. DUMAS, Judge of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
JAYNE F. DUNCAN, Esquire, Lancaster County
MAUREEN E. LALLY-GREEN, Retired Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
KATHERINE E. MCGILL, Judge of the Montgomery County Magisterial District Court
BRADLEY K. MOSS, Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court
EDWARD D. REIBMAN, Senior Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Lehigh County
VICTOR P. STABILE, Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
STELLA M. TSAI, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County

Frequently Asked Questions

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    How do I request an Advisory Opinion?

    Any judicial officer may request an ethics advisory opinion by submitting a Request to the Board in writing.  Request may be submitted via United States Mail, fax or email, as referenced at the top of this page.

    A Request must contain a sufficient statement of the facts regarding the intended conduct so that the Board may render an advisory opinion.  A Request must relate to the inquiring judicial officer’s own prospective conduct or conduct of the inquiring judicial officer that has occurred in the past and is ongoing. In submitting a Request, please reference any relevant section(s) of the Codes, case law and/or other authority you may have already consulted.

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    How do I search for an Advisory Opinion?

    Opinions of the Board are published only through a secure access area of the Board’s web page located here: Board opinions are only to judicial officers and are redacted to remove information that might tend to identify the inquiring judicial officer or any other person. 

    Opinions are searchable and indexed by the relevant provisions of the applicable Code.  An Opinion of the Board may be exempted from publication if the Board finds that the identity of the requester cannot be protected to the Board’s satisfaction through redaction.

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    What protection is afforded by an Advisory Opinion?

    Where a judicial officer complies with Advice that is subsequently adopted as a Board Opinion, such compliance shall be entitled to substantial weight in determining whether discipline should be recommended or imposed.

    Where a judicial officer complies with Advice that is subsequently reversed or modified by the Board, compliance prior to the time the judicial officer is notified of the Board’s action shall be taken into account in determining whether discipline should be recommended or imposed.

    Where a judicial officer complies with General Guidance, such compliance may be taken into account in determining whether discipline should be recommended or imposed.

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    Can I receive a verbal Advisory Opinion?

    Informal or informational discussions (verbal, text, email) with Board members or Board staff shall not be afforded consideration in determining whether discipline should be recommended or imposed.  Only an Advice or Opinion of the Board will provide the rule of reliance.