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Principles
1. Impartiality
2. Personal Integrity
3. Professionalism
4. Confidentiality
5. Impropriety
6. Appearance of Impropriety
7. Prohibition Against
Giving Legal Advice
8. Duty
of Service
9. Competency
10. Discrimination
11. Harassment
12. Technology
Resources
California Code of Ethics
Personnel
Rules
What Information
Can Court Staff Provide?
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| Safeguard confidential information, both written and oral, unless disclosure is authorized by the court,
refuse
to use such information for personal advantage, and abstain at all times from public comment about pending court proceedings, except for strictly procedural matters. |
Dilemma
· Faithful Friend
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Sensitive information
acquired by court employees in the course of discharging
their official duties should never be revealed until
it is made a matter of public record. Sometimes breaches
of confidentiality do not involve intentional disclosure
of official court records but are the result of innocent
and casual remarks about pending or closed cases, about
participants in litigation, or about juries, any of
which could give attorneys, litigants, and reporters
confidential information. Such remarks can seriously
compromise a case or a person's standing in the community.
Court staff should discuss cases only for legitimate
reasons, and should handle sensational or sensitive
cases with great care.
Personnel Rule:
Rule 9.05 C (3) b authorizes discipline of employees for “just cause.” Glossary of Terms in Personnel Rules for the definitions of “just cause”:
5: using court property, equipment or funds in a careless, negligent or improper manner;
14: falsifying or mishandling official records or documents;
15: attempting to use influence to affect a court action’s outcome;
22: violating the obligation of confidentiality expected of Judicial Branch employees.
Judicial Branch Policies for At-Will Employees:
§7.02
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