Standards of Judicial Conduct— the First Annual Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub Lecture

It is fitting that Rutgers Law School has inaugurated this lecture series honoring Chief Justice Joseph Weintraub. The school represents the state's commitment to maintain the excellence of the bar, which is perhaps the most effective means for maintaining the excellence of the bench, the twin goals which the late Chief Justice valued above all. As a holder of the office to which he brought national recognition, I have been asked to give the first of these lectures. I am honored to do so. There have been many great judges in New Jersey's judicial system. Chief Justice Weintraub, however, was one of the giants of that system, and all of us who now serve have been affected by him. He contributed substantially to much that is good in our system, and perhaps more than anything, to our standards of judicial conduct. Today, by examining that subject, I think we honor him in a way he would have wanted. I think he would appreciate the fact that since his departure as Chief Justice in 1973, the record of the Judiciary has been superb, substantially because of his efforts, continued, of course, by his successors. What he would appreciate most, though, is that despite our undiminished confidence in the independence and integrity of our Judiciary, we recognize today that the time has come for a rededication to those standards, a renewed commitment to his standards, and above all, the time has come for a reexamination of the basis for our unparalleled record of good behavior, to make sure its foundations remain secure. Though the record would allow it, we will not take judicial conduct for granted. It is much too