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NY ethics opinion on judges packing
The NY Advirosy Committee on Judicial Ethics has ruled: it's not unethical for judges to pack heat on the bench. They advise keeping it concealed.
(I'm told of one Texas judge who often cleans his .45 on the bench during boring moments in a trial).
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Cleaning on the bench is not a great idea...you get a fine spray of hoppe's all over your court documents, and your gun is out of battery when you might actually need it! Other than that, any judge who packs in court ought to be willing to let us mere mortals pack anywhere else.
There was a Texas judge who cleaned his 1873 Colts during jury selection, but (unfortunately in my opinion) got scolded by the state, which said he "failed to act in a dignified manner."
(http://www.stiffs.com/backjunjul00.html, search on "Old West".)
It appears the state was after him about some other things too.
elb
I used to be a prosecutor and practiced before such a judge in Florida. He used to take us (prosecutors and public defenders) out to the local gun range and let us try out some of his collection.
Good times, and a good man.