Section 2.9. Ex parte Communications

(A) A magisterial district judge shall not initiate, permit, or consider ex parte communications, or consider other communications made to the magisterial district judge outside the presence of the parties or their lawyers or authorized representatives, concerning a pending or impending matter, except as follows:

(1) When circumstances require it, ex parte communication for scheduling, administrative, or emergency purposes, which does not address substantive matters, is permitted, provided:

(a) the magisterial district judge reasonably believes that no party will gain a procedural, substantive, or tactical advantage as a result of the ex parte communication; and

(b) the magisterial district judge makes provision promptly to notify all other parties of the substance of the ex parte communication, and gives the parties an opportunity to respond whenever the circumstances reasonably permit.

(2) A magisterial district judge may obtain the written advice of a disinterested expert on the law applicable to a proceeding before the magisterial district judge, if the magisterial district judge gives advance notice to the parties of the person to be consulted and the subject matter of the advice to be solicited, and affords the parties a reasonable opportunity to object and respond to the notice and to the advice received.

(3) A magisterial district judge may consult with court staff and court officials whose functions are to aid the magisterial district judge in carrying out the magisterial district judge’s adjudicative responsibilities, or with other magisterial district judges, provided the magisterial district judge makes reasonable efforts to avoid receiving factual information that is not part of the record, and does not abrogate the responsibility to decide the matter personally.

(4) A magisterial district judge may initiate, permit, or consider any ex parte communication when expressly authorized by law to do so.

(B) If a magisterial district judge inadvertently receives an unauthorized ex parte communication bearing upon the substance of a matter, the magisterial district judge shall promptly notify the parties of the substance of the communication and provide the parties with an opportunity to respond.

(C) A magisterial district judge shall not investigate facts in a matter independently, and shall consider only the evidence presented and any facts that may properly be judicially noticed.

(D) A magisterial district judge shall make reasonable efforts, including providing appropriate supervision, to ensure that this Rule is not violated by court staff, court officials, and others subject to the magisterial district judge’s direction and control.

(E) It is not a violation of this Rule for a magisterial district judge to initiate, permit, or consider ex parte communications expressly authorized by law, such as when serving on therapeutic or problem-solving courts, mental health courts, or drug courts. In this capacity, a magisterial district judge may assume a more interactive role with the parties, treatment providers, probation officers, social workers, and others.

Comment:

(1) To the extent reasonably possible, all parties or their lawyers shall be included in communications with a magisterial district judge.

(2) Whenever the presence of a party or notice to a party is required by this Rule, it is the party’s attorney of record or authorized representative, or if the party is unrepresented, the party, who is to be present or to whom notice is to be given.

(3) The proscription against communications concerning a proceeding includes communications with lawyers, law teachers, and other persons who are not participants in the proceeding, except to the limited extent permitted by this Rule.

(4) A magisterial district judge shall avoid comments and interactions that may be interpreted as ex parte communications concerning pending matters or matters that may appear before the court, including a magisterial district judge who participates in electronic social media.

(5) A magisterial district judge may consult with other magisterial district judges on pending matters, but must avoid ex parte discussions of a case with magisterial district judges who have previously been disqualified from hearing the matter, and with judges who have appellate jurisdiction over the matter.

(6) The prohibition against a magisterial district judge investigating the facts in a matter extends to information available in all mediums, including electronic.

(7) A magisterial district judge may consult ethics advisory committees, outside counsel, or legal experts concerning the magisterial district judge’s compliance with these Conduct Rules. Such consultations are not subject to the restrictions of paragraph (A)(2).

(8) In order to obtain the protection afforded to ex parte communication under paragraph (E) of this Rule, a magisterial district judge should take special care to make sure that the participants in such voluntary special court programs are made aware of and consent to the possibility of ex parte communications under paragraph (E).