SENATE BILL 527
50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011
INTRODUCED BY
Rod Adair
AN ACT
RELATING TO ELECTIONS; ENACTING THE JUDICIAL ETHICS PROVISION OF THE CAMPAIGN REPORTING ACT; PROHIBITING LAWYERS FROM MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO JUDGES OR JUDICIAL CANDIDATES; PROHIBITING CERTAIN COMMITTEES FROM SOLICITING OR ACCEPTING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LAWYERS; PROHIBITING LAWYERS FROM ENDORSING OR SUPPORTING THE ELECTION OF A JUDGE OR JUDICIAL CANDIDATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. A new section of the Campaign Reporting Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] PROHIBITED SOLICITATIONS, ENDORSEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS--JUDICIAL ELECTIONS.--
A. A judge or candidate for judicial office shall not personally solicit or accept campaign contributions. A judicial candidate may, however, establish a committee to conduct a campaign for the candidate through media advertisements, brochures, mailings, candidate forums and other means not prohibited by law. The committee may solicit and accept lawful campaign contributions and manage the expenditure of funds for the candidate's campaign. The committee shall not solicit or accept campaign contributions from lawyers licensed to practice law in the state.
B. A lawyer licensed to practice law in the state shall not make a contribution to a judge or candidate for judicial office or to a committee established by or for the judge or candidate to solicit or accept campaign contributions on the judge's or candidate's behalf.
C. A lawyer licensed to practice law in the state shall not endorse a judge or candidate for judicial office, nor shall the lawyer allow the use of the lawyer's name, image or quotations to be used in any advertisement, personal letter solicitation, mailings or other form of media or communication endorsing or supporting a judge or judicial candidate in an election."
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2011.
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