A Judge or Judicial Candidate Shall Refrain From Political Activity Inappropriate to Judicial Office

A. In General.

Each justice of the Supreme Court and each Court of Appeals and district court judge is deemed to hold a separate nonpartisan office, Minn. Stat. 204B.06 subd. 6.

(1) Except as authorized in Section 5B(1), a judge or a candidate for election to judicial office shall not:

(a) act as a leader or hold any office in a political organization; identify themselves as members of a political organization, except as necessary to vote in an election;

(b) publicly endorse or, except for the judge or candidate's opponent, publicly oppose another candidate for public office;

(c) make speeches on behalf of a political organization; or

(d) attend political gatherings; or seek, accept, or use endorsements from a political organization; or

(e) solicit funds for or pay an assessment to or make a contribution to a political organization or candidate, or purchase tickets for political party dinners or other functions.

* * * *

(1) A judge or a candidate for election to judicial office may, except as prohibited by law,

(a) speak to gatherings, other than political organization gatherings, on his or her own behalf;

(b) appear in newspaper, television and other media advertisements supporting his or her candidacy; and

(c) distribute pamphlets and other promotional campaign literature supporting his or her candidacy.

(2) A candidate shall not personally solicit or accept campaign contributions or solicit publicly stated support.

A candidate may, however, establish committees to conduct campaigns for the candidate through media advertisements, brochures, mailings, candidate forums and other means not prohibited by law. Such committees may solicit and accept campaign contributions, manage the expenditure of funds for the candidate's campaign and obtain public statements of support for his or her candidacy. Such committees are not prohibited from soliciting and accepting campaign contributions and public support from lawyers, but shall not seek, accept or use political organization endorsements.

Such committees shall not disclose to the candidate the identity of campaign contributors nor shall the committee disclose to the candidate the identity of those who were solicited for contribution or stated public support and refused such solicitation. A candidate shall not use or permit the use of campaign contributions for the private benefit of the candidate or others.