I am an elected judge. Some close friends of mine and family members have given me gifts. Do I have to report them?
Samuel C. Stretton.
For many years, Pennsylvania Rules of Judicial Conduct did not include any prohibition about receiving gifts. In fact, for many years the only requirement was a rather loose reporting of the gifts. That, of course, changed with the adoption of the New Code of Judicial Conduct. Rule 3.13 of the Code of Judicial Conduct talks about acceptance of gifts, loans and other things of value. The rule is very clear that a judge cannot accept gifts.
