Rule 8.2.Judicial and Legal Officials 
 (a)A lawyer shall not make a statement that the lawyer knows to 
 be false or with reckless disregard as to its truth or falsity 
 concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge, adjudicatory 
 officer or public legal officer, or of a candidate for election, 
 appointment to or retention in judicial or legal office. 
  
 (b)A lawyer who is a candidate for retention in judicial office 
 shall comply with the applicable provisions of the code of judicial 
 conduct. 
  
 

                                                                
ANNOTATIONSCOMMENT 
 Assessments by lawyers are relied on in evaluating the 
 professional or personal fitness of persons being considered for 
 election or appointment to judicial office and to public legal offices, 
 such as attorney general, prosecuting attorney and public defender. 
 Expressing honest and candid opinions on such matters contributes to 
 improving the administration of justice.  Conversely, false statements 
 by a lawyer can unfairly undermine public confidence in the 
 administration of justice. 
  
 When a lawyer seeks judicial office, the lawyer should be bound by 
 applicable limitations on political activity. 
  
 To maintain the fair and independent administration of justice, 
 lawyers are encouraged to continue traditional efforts to defend judges 
 and courts unjustly criticized. 
  
 COMMITTEE COMMENT 
 The Committee notes that applicable provisions of the Colorado 
 Code of Judicial Conduct also apply to the process for selecting and 
 retaining judges. 
  
  
  
 ANNOTATION 
  
 Annotator's note. 
 Rule 8.2 is similar to 
 DR 8-102 as it 
 existed prior to the 1992 repeal and reenactment of the Code of 
 Professional Responsibility. 
 Relevant cases construing 
 that provision have 
 been included in the annotations to this rule. 
  
 Respondent's motion to recuse was not supported by an affidavit as 
 required by C.R.C.P. 97, thus the statements made therein were made with 
 reckless disregard as to their truth or falsity. People v. Thomas, 925 P.2d 
 1081 (Colo. 1996). 
  
 Cases Decided Under Former DR 8-102. 
 Falsely accusing judicial officers and others of conspiracy warranted 
 disbarment where respondent violated other disciplinary rules and had been 
 previously suspended for similar conduct.  People v. Bottinelli, 926 P.2d 553 
 (Colo. 1996). 
  
 Disbarment warranted where attorney filed false pleadings and 
 disciplinary complaints, disclosed information concerning the filing of the 
 disciplinary complaints, offered to withdraw a disciplinary complaint filed 
 against a 
 judge in exchange for a favorable ruling, failed to serve copies of pleadings 
 on opposing counsel, revealed client confidences and material considered 
 derogatory and harmful to the client aggravated by a repeated failure to 
 cooperate with the investigation of misconduct, disruption of disciplinary 
 proceedings, and a record of prior discipline.  People v. Bannister, 814 P.2d 
 801 (Colo. 1991). 
  
 Conduct violating this rule in conjunction with other disciplinary rules 
 is sufficient to justify disbarment. 
 People v. Bannister, 814 P.2d 801 (Colo. 1991). 
  
 Applied in People v. Harfmann, 638 P.2d 745 (Colo. 1981).