COBI 2013 - Judicial Conduct Commission

Compendium of Budget Information for the 2013 General Session

Infrastructure & General Government
Appropriations Subcommittee

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Agency: Administrative Services

Line Item: Judicial Conduct Commission

Function

The Judicial Conduct Commission is a quasi-independent agency that investigates and resolves complaints against Utah judges. The executive director manages claims, assigns investigators, and prosecutes judges when necessary. The commission dismisses approximately ninety percent of all complaints, resolves five percent by stipulation, and conducts formal hearings for five percent of all complaints.

Statutory Authority

A constitutional amendment passed in 1984 established the Commission as part of Article VIII, Section 13 of the Utah Constitution. Following investigations and hearings, if the commission finds cause as outlined in Section 13, it may recommend that the Supreme Court reprimand, censure, suspend, remove, or involuntarily retire any justice or judge.

Commission composition is defined in UCA 78A-11-103 as:

Two members from the House of Representatives
Two members of the Senate
Two members of the Utah State Bar
Three non-members of the Bar, appointed by the governor with consent of the Senate
Two judges from trial courts of record

Intent Language

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Judicial Conduct Commission in Item 21 of Chapter 3 Laws of Utah 2011 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2012. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to the following: professional services for investigations - $80,000

Performance

The commission strives to promote public confidence in the judicial system and create greater awareness of proper judicial conduct. The following chart shows the number of complaints received and investigated by the commission.

Judicial Conduct Commission Complaints Received

Funding Detail

Current expense in this budget is used to hire outside investigators and temporary employees based on case load.

Sources of Finance (click linked fund name for more info)	2009 Actual	2010 Actual	2011 Actual	2012 Actual	2013 Approp
General Fund	$237,200	$218,400	$207,200	$206,600	$210,600
General Fund, One-time	$0	($1,600)	$0	$0	$0
Beginning Nonlapsing	$97,500	$105,500	$78,300	$58,300	$37,100
Closing Nonlapsing	($105,500)	($78,300)	($58,300)	($25,200)	($15,900)
Lapsing Balance	$0	($22,100)	$0	$0	$0
Total	$229,200	$221,900	$227,200	$239,700	$231,800

Programs: (click linked program name to drill-down)	2009 Actual	2010 Actual	2011 Actual	2012 Actual	2013 Approp
Judicial Conduct Commission	$229,200	$221,900	$227,200	$239,700	$231,800
Total	$229,200	$221,900	$227,200	$239,700	$231,800

Categories of Expenditure (mouse-over category name for definition)	2009 Actual	2010 Actual	2011 Actual	2012 Actual	2013 Approp
Personnel Services	$185,200	$186,800	$190,400	$195,600	$195,300
In-state Travel	$3,500	$2,600	$2,000	$2,800	$2,000
Out-of-state Travel	$13,500	$2,000	$4,400	$7,100	$4,400
Current Expense	$21,100	$23,100	$23,800	$28,800	$23,800
DP Current Expense	$5,900	$7,400	$6,600	$5,400	$6,300
Total	$229,200	$221,900	$227,200	$239,700	$231,800

Other Indicators	2009 Actual	2010 Actual	2011 Actual	2012 Actual	2013 Approp
Budgeted FTE	2.0	1.5	2.0	1.5	1.5
Actual FTE	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.6	0.0

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.