1. (a) Commencement of judicial service.

   1. (1) Required notification. An attorney shall notify the Attorney Registration Office in writing of the commencement of judicial service within 30 days.

   2. (2) Judge status.

      1. (i) An attorney who commences judicial service as a justice or judge on the following courts shall be assigned judge status by the Attorney Registration Office:

         1. (A) Pennsylvania courts of record: Supreme, Superior, Commonwealth, Common Pleas, and Philadelphia Municipal; and
         2. (B) federal courts: Supreme, Court of Appeals, Bankruptcy, and District Court, including full-time and part-time magistrate judges not otherwise engaged in the practice of law.

      2. (ii) An attorney not assigned judge status shall remain on the attorney’s current license status until that status changes pursuant to another provision of the Enforcement Rules.

         Note: Paragraph (2) also applies to judicial officers who are assigned a senior status or certified for recall service.

2. (b) Conclusion of Judicial Service.

   1. (1) Required notification. Within 30 days after the conclusion of judicial service, a judicial officer shall notify the Attorney Registration Office of the conclusion of judicial service.

   2. (2) Concluding judicial service on judge status. A judicial officer concluding judicial service on judge status must elect a new license status: active, inactive, or retired.

      1. (i) The judicial officer shall, within 60 days after the conclusion of judicial service, submit to the Attorney Registration Office:

         1. (A) an administrative change in status form available through that office which shall include a certification that at the conclusion of judicial service, the judicial officer either was or was not the subject of an adverse circumstance as defined in paragraph (d)(2);
         2. (B) a confidentiality waiver, where the judicial officer has indicated an adverse circumstance as defined in paragraph (d)(1); the waiver shall authorize the Judicial Conduct Board and the Court of Judicial Discipline, or equivalent entities in another jurisdiction, to release to Disciplinary Counsel records of proceedings relating to adverse circumstances; and
         3. (C) payment of the annual assessment for the year in which the request is made, where the judicial officer has elected active or inactive status.

      2. (ii) A former judicial officer who does not timely submit to the Attorney Registration Office the documents and payment required by paragraph (b)(2)(i) shall be placed on retired status by that office. Thereafter, the former judicial officer may seek a change in license status under (A) or (B) of this paragraph (ii).

         1. (A) Retired status for three years or less. The former judicial officer must submit to the Attorney Registration Office the documents and payment required by paragraph (b)(2)(i). Upon determination by the Attorney Registration Office that the applicable requirements have been satisfied, the Attorney Registration Office shall process the requested status change.
         2. (B) Retired status for more than three years. The former judicial officer must petition for reinstatement under the provisions of Enforcement Rule 218(d).

   3. (3) Concluding judicial service on a status other than judge status. A judicial officer who concludes judicial service on a status other than judge status shall, within 60 days after the conclusion of service, submit to the Attorney Registration Office:

      1. (i) a certification that at the conclusion of judicial service, the judicial officer either was or was not the subject of an adverse circumstance as defined in paragraph (d)(2); and

      2. (ii) a confidentiality waiver, where the judicial officer has indicated an adverse circumstance as defined in paragraph (d)(1); the waiver shall authorize the Judicial Conduct Board and the Court of Judicial Discipline, or equivalent entities in another jurisdiction, to release to Disciplinary Counsel records of proceedings relating to adverse circumstances.

         The judicial officer’s current license status shall remain in effect until that status changes pursuant to another provision of the Enforcement Rules.

         Note: Subdivision (b) is not applicable to judicial officers on senior status or certified for recall service until such status or service finally concludes.

3. (c) Initiation of investigation of a former judicial officer who concluded judicial service while the subject of an adverse circumstance.

   1. (1) Upon notification from any source that a former judicial officer concluded judicial service while the subject of an adverse circumstance as defined in paragraph (d)(2), Disciplinary Counsel:

      1. (i) shall open a file and investigate; and
      2. (ii) may pursue informal or formal proceedings under the Enforcement Rules, including seeking a temporary suspension under Rule 208(f) or Rule 214(d).
   2. (2) Evidence of removal or judicial discipline in the form of an order or judgment shall be admissible in proceedings under these rules and is conclusive proof of the facts on which the judicial misconduct or disability was found by the Court of Judicial Discipline or the Court, or equivalent entity in another jurisdiction.

4. (d) Definitions.

   1. (1) ‘‘Adverse circumstance.’’ Any of the following:

      1. (i) judicial suspension.
      2. (ii) removal from office by order, impeachment, or other form of adverse action.
      3. (iii) a pending investigation, prosecution, or removal proceedings for misconduct or disability.
   2. (2) ‘‘Subject of an adverse circumstance.’’ A judicial officer who, at the conclusion of judicial service, was the subject of an adverse circumstance enumerated in (d)(1).

Source

The provisions of this Rule 222 added February 11, 2026, effective in 30 days, 56 Pa.B. 1104.