Canon 7 May Not Assist the Court

A law clerk or staff attorney may not assist the Court, in any manner, in the following cases:

a. a case in which the law clerk or staff attorney has worked, in any capacity, before working for the Court; or by virtue of former employment has gained knowledge of the facts of the case;

b. a case in which the law clerk’s or staff attorney’s former employer, if any, was involved as a party or legal counsel and that was pending in any court at the time the law clerk or staff attorney was employed by that employer;

c. a case in which the law clerk’s or staff attorney’s prospective employer or his or her spouse’s employer, if any, is involved either as a party or as legal counselCode of Conduct for Law Clerks and Staff Attorneys of the Supreme Court of Texas (Jan. 2002) - Page 4 (prospective employer means that with whom the law clerk or staff attorney has interviewed and from whom the law clerk or staff attorney seeks an offer of employment or from whom the law clerk or staff attorney has accepted or is considering an offer of employment);

d. a case in which the law clerk’s or staff attorney’s family members are involved, or he or she knows that his or her spouse or minor child residing in the household has a financial interest (as explained in Canon 8(B)(5) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct) in the subject matter in controversy, or has any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding;
and

e. a case in which, if the law clerk or staff attorney were a judge, there would be grounds for disqualification or recusal under Rule 16.2, Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.