What does MRPC Rule 1.12 prevent former judges from doing?

MRPC Rule 1.12 specifically addresses the conduct of former judges, arbitrators, mediators, or other adjudicative officers by imposing a prohibition on representing any party in connection with a matter in which they participated personally and substantially while in their previous role. This means that if a former judge has been involved in a case, they cannot later represent clients concerning that same case, ensuring that the integrity of the judicial process is maintained and that there is no conflict of interest arising from their prior involvement.

The rationale behind this rule is to uphold the public's trust in the judicial system by preventing any potential misuse of insider knowledge or influence that may compromise the fairness of the proceedings. By limiting a former judge’s ability to represent clients in cases they have previously judged, the rule helps safeguard against any appearance of impropriety or favoritism, thus protecting the legal process and the interests of all parties involved.

In contrast, the prohibitions mentioned in the other options may not strictly apply under this rule. Providing advisory opinions can sometimes be permissible depending on the context, working as legal assistants does not directly conflict with the role of a judge, and testifying in legal proceedings would generally not be covered under this specific rule unless it pertained to a matter they