Acceptable Use Policy

Introduction

This Acceptable Use Policy ("Policy") governs your use of JudgeFinder.io (the "Service"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to comply with this Policy and our Terms of Service.

This Policy protects all users, maintains platform integrity, and ensures compliance with applicable laws and ethical standards.

Permitted Uses

JudgeFinder.io is designed for lawful legal research purposes only. Permitted uses include:

• Case Preparation: Researching judges assigned to your legal matters
• Attorney Research: Finding qualified attorneys with relevant experience
• Judicial Transparency: Learning about judicial backgrounds and court assignments
• Legal Strategy: Analyzing judicial ruling patterns to inform legal strategy decisions
• Academic Research: Scholarly study of judicial systems and court operations (with proper attribution)
• Professional Development: Legal professionals educating themselves about the judiciary

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate account termination and legal action:

1. Harassment and Defamation

• Using the Service to harass, threaten, or intimidate any person
• Publishing false, misleading, or defamatory information about judges or attorneys
• Coordinating campaigns to damage judicial reputations
• Posting content that violates judicial privacy or dignity
• Making unfounded allegations of judicial misconduct or bias

2. Misuse of Judicial Data

• Using judicial data to make decisions about employment, credit, insurance, housing, or other purposes covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
• Presenting JudgeFinder.io analytics as evidence in court without proper context and expert testimony
• Misrepresenting bias statistics as proof of judicial misconduct or unfitness
• Using data to file frivolous judicial recusal motions or complaints
• Republishing judicial analytics without proper attribution and disclaimers

3. Data Scraping and Automation

• Scraping, harvesting, or extracting data using automated tools (bots, crawlers, scripts) without written permission
• Reverse engineering our bias calculation algorithms or proprietary analytics
• Creating competing services using JudgeFinder.io data
• Circumventing rate limits, authentication, or access controls through technical means
• Bulk downloading data beyond what is reasonably necessary for individual legal research

4. Security and System Integrity

• Attempting to access restricted areas of the Service or other users' accounts
• Probing, scanning, or testing system vulnerabilities
• Interfering with or disrupting the Service's operation or servers
• Introducing viruses, malware, or other malicious code
• Overloading systems with excessive requests (DDoS attacks)
• Bypassing security measures or authentication requirements

5. Account Abuse

• Creating multiple accounts to abuse free trial or promotional offers
• Sharing account credentials with unauthorized users
• Impersonating another person or entity
• Providing false information during registration or verification
• Using the Service on behalf of others without proper organizational billing (for law firms)

6. Commercial Misuse

• Reselling or redistributing JudgeFinder.io data or analytics without explicit authorization
• Using judicial data for commercial purposes unrelated to legal research (e.g., marketing lists, lead generation)
• Integrating our data into third-party products without a commercial license
• Displaying our trademarks or branding in ways that imply partnership or endorsement

7. Illegal Activities

• Using the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of applicable laws
• Facilitating or promoting illegal activities
• Violating export control laws or sanctions regulations
• Money laundering or fraudulent financial activities
• Violating professional ethics rules or attorney conduct regulations

8. Advertising Violations (For Attorneys)

• Making false or misleading claims about qualifications or case results
• Guaranteeing legal outcomes in advertising content
• Violating state bar attorney advertising rules or professional responsibility regulations
• Advertising while under disciplinary suspension or license restrictions
• Using fake reviews, testimonials, or endorsements

Professional Responsibilities

For Attorneys

Licensed attorneys using JudgeFinder.io must:

• Maintain active, unrestricted bar license in good standing
• Comply with all attorney advertising rules and professional responsibility regulations
• Provide accurate information about credentials, experience, and specializations
• Promptly notify us of disciplinary actions, suspensions, or license status changes
• Not misrepresent JudgeFinder.io data as legal advice to clients

For Self-Represented Litigants

Individuals representing themselves must:

• Understand that JudgeFinder.io provides information only, not legal advice or representation
• Not rely solely on bias analytics when making critical legal strategy decisions
• Verify critical information through official court sources
• Consult with a qualified attorney for complex legal matters
• Not use judicial data to make unfounded allegations in court filings

Reporting Violations

If you become aware of violations of this Policy, please report them to:

Email: abuse@judgefinder.io
Subject Line: "Acceptable Use Policy Violation"

Include:

• Detailed description of the violation
• URLs or screenshots demonstrating the abuse
• Date and time of the incident
• Any other relevant information

We investigate all credible reports and take appropriate action, which may include:

• Issuing warnings to violators
• Suspending or terminating accounts
• Removing content that violates this Policy
• Reporting illegal activities to law enforcement
• Pursuing legal remedies for damages

Consequences of Violations

Account Suspension or Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, if you violate this Policy. Serious violations may result in permanent account closure and forfeiture of any prepaid subscription fees.

Legal Action

Violations may result in civil or criminal liability. We will cooperate with law enforcement investigations and may pursue legal action to:

• Recover damages from policy violations
• Obtain injunctive relief to prevent ongoing abuse
• Enforce intellectual property rights
• Prosecute criminal activities

Professional Reporting

Attorney violations of professional ethics rules may be reported to relevant state bar associations for disciplinary investigation.

Modifications to This Policy

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or platform features. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified policy.

Significant changes will be announced via:

• Updated "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
• Email notification to registered users
• Prominent notice on the JudgeFinder.io website

Contact Information

For questions about this Acceptable Use Policy, contact us at:

Email: legal@judgefinder.io
Address: JudgeFinder.io, California, USA

Related Policies

Please review our additional legal policies for comprehensive information:

• Terms of Service - Overall usage terms and legal agreements
• Privacy Policy - Data collection and protection practices
• Cookie Policy - Cookie usage and management