Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee, Opinion 2024-24 – Judges Signing of Federal U Visa Certifications – Supplemental Opinion (October 17, 2024) [pdf]

This Maryland Judicial Ethics committee opinion advises about the judicial ethics of U visa certification by state court judges in Maryland. On many points the opinion is useful and provides conclusions consistent with the American Bar Association’s Model Code of Judicial Ethics, the U visa statute, and the Department of Homeland Security’s regulations, policies and publications. However, the opinion also contains assumptions and legally incorrect information about the U visa program and Violence Against Women Act confidentiality requirements that unnecessarily endanger victims and undermine federal VAWA Confidentiality law protections and the Department of Homeland Security’s victim centered and trauma informed approach to U visa victims.