Rule 2.13. Administrative Appointments

Administrative Appointments (a) In making or facilitating administrative appointments, a judge: (1) shall act impartially and on the basis of merit; and 77 (2) shall avoid nepotism, favoritism, and unnecessary appointments. (b) A judge shall not approve compensation of appointees beyond the fair value of services rendered. (Effective Jan. 1, 2011.) COMMENT: (1) Appointees of a judge include, but are not limited to, assigned counsel, officials such as referees, commissioners, special masters, receivers, and guardians, and personnel such as clerks, secretaries, and judicial marshals. Consent by the parties to an appointment or an award of compensation does not relieve the judge of the obligation prescribed by subsection (a). (2) Unless otherwise defined by law, nepotism is the appointment or hiring of any relative within the third degree of relationship of either the judge or the judge’s spouse or domestic partner, or the spouse or domestic partner of such relative.