CARSON CITY (AP) - A Nevada judicial ethics panel says lunch with a district court judge cannot be auctioned off to raise money for a nonprofit research group.
An opinion issued Tuesday said several judges have been asked by the unidentified organization to attend a luncheon and be part of a silent auction.
The judicial panel says while money raised by the auction may be for a worthy cause, it is "fraught with ethical peril."
The opinion said the judge can't control who buys the luncheon date, noting it could be someone involved in a proceeding before the judge.
It also said the judge can't control the bidding amount, and the auctioning could taint the judicial office.