*** Contact With the Court  ***
The Code of Judicial Conduct provides that:

"A judge shall not initiate, permit, or consider ex parte or other communications made to the judge outside the presence of the parties…concerning the merits of a pending or impending judicial proceeding.  A judge shall require compliance with this subsection by court personnel subject to his or her direction and control…" 

Reference: Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3, Section B. (8).

It is the policy of the courts that email should only be used for standard scheduling matters.  Opposing counsel should be copied on all emails.