California Labor Codes 123.6

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§§ 123.6 Code of judicial conduct applies

History: Amended by stats 2002 (AB 749) Amended by stats 2002, Chap 866 (AB 486) (a) All workers' compensation administrative law judges employed by the administrative director and supervised by the court administrator shall subscribe to the Code of Judicial Ethics adopted by the Supreme Court pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 18 of Article VI of the California Constitution for the conduct of judges and shall not otherwise, directly or indirectly, engage in conduct contrary to that code or to the commentary to the Code of Judicial Ethics made by the California Judges Association. In consultation with both the court administrator and the Commission on Judicial Performance, the administrative director shall adopt regulations to enforce this section. Existing regulations shall remain in effect until new regulations based on the recommendations of the court administrator and the Commission on Judicial Performance have become effective. To the extent possible, the rules shall be consistent with the procedures established by the Commission on Judicial Performance for regulating the activities of state judges, and, to the extent possible, with the gift, honoraria, and travel restrictions on legislators contained in the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code). The court administrator shall have the authority to enforce the rules adopted by the administrative director. (b) Honoraria or travel allowed by the court administrator, and not otherwise prohibited by this section in connection with any public or private conference, convention, meeting, social event, or like gathering, the cost of which is significantly paid for by attorneys who practice before the board, may not be accepted unless the court administrator has provided prior approval in writing to the workers' compensation administrative law judge allowing him or her to accept those payments.

Relevant Case Law Fremont Indemnity Co. v. WCAB Note: Judge's two phone calls to independent medical examiner denied parties a fair trial. Robbins v. Sharp Healthcare Note: Bias or the appearance of bias solely against an attorney or law firm may be a valid ground for a petition for disqualification of a WCJ.