A judge may engage in extrajudicial activities, except as prohibited by law or this code. However, when engaging in extrajudicial activities, a judge shall not:

(A) Participate in activities that will interfere with the proper performance of the judge’s judicial duties;

(B) Participate in activities that will lead to frequent recusal of the judge;

(C) Participate in activities that would demean the judicial office or cast reasonable doubt on the judge’s capacity to act impartially as a judge;

(D) Engage in conduct that would appear to a reasonable person to be coercive.

[1] Complete separation of a judge from extrajudicial activities is neither possible nor wise; a judge should not become isolated from the community in which the judge lives. As a judicial officer and person specially learned in the law, a judge is in a unique position to contribute to the improvement of the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice, including revision of substantive and procedural law and improvement of criminal and juvenile justice. To the extent that time permits, a judge is encouraged to do so, either independently or through a bar association, judicial conference or other organization dedicated to the improvement of the law. Judges may participate in efforts to promote the fair administration of justice, the independence of the judiciary, and the integrity of the legal profession and may express opposition to the persecution of lawyers and judges in other countries because of their professional activities. A judge may speak, write, lecture, teach, and participate in other extrajudicial activities concerning the law, the legal system, the administration of justice and nonlegal subjects, subject to the requirements of this Rule 2-3.1.

[2] Participation in both law-related and other extrajudicial activities helps integrate judges into their communities, and furthers public understanding of and respect for courts and the judicial system.