publications_unodc_commentary-e

4.11.2 appear at a public hearing before an official bodyconcerned with matters relating to the law, the legalsystem, the administration of justice or related matters;CommentaryAppearance before an official body as a judge158. A judge may appear and give evidence before an official body to the extentthat it would generally be perceived that the judge’s judicial experience providesspecial expertise on the issue under consideration.Appearance before an official body as a private citizen159. A judge may appear as a private citizen to give evidence or makesubmissions before governmental bodies on matters that are likely to affect him orher privately, such as zoning proposals that will affect the judge’s real estate, orproposals regarding the availability of local health services. The judge mustexercise care, however, not to lend the prestige of judicial office to advance generalcauses in such public inquiries with respect to which the judge possesses no specialjudicial competence.106