DeNike v. Cupo

The Judiciary derives its authority from the State Constitution but earns the public’s confidence through acts of unquestioned integrity. When that trust is shaken — even slightly — our system of justice falters. To guard against that outcome, we now address an area fraught with peril: a sitting judge’s exploration of future employment opportunities.

In this case, a lawyer approached a trial judge and asked if he would consider affiliating with the attorney’s firm upon retirement. In response, the judge began preliminary negotiations with the lawyer. Throughout the brief period of their…