COBI 2014 - Judicial Conduct Commission

Compendium of Budget Information for the 2014 General Session

Infrastructure and 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 Judicial Conduct Commission in Item 21 of Chapter 12 Laws of Utah 2012 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2013. 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. Note that the Governor's Office of Management and Budget is currently revamping the performance measures for Administrative Services.

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)
General Fund
General Fund, One-time
Beginning Nonlapsing
Closing Nonlapsing
Lapsing Balance
Total

2010 Actual	2011 Actual	2012 Actual	2013 Actual	2014 Approp	2014 Change	2014 Revised	2015 Change	2015 Approp
$218,400	$207,200	$206,600	$210,600	$240,400	$0	$240,400	$5,100	$245,500
($1,600)	$0	$0	$0	$0	$300	$300	$400	$700
$105,500	$78,300	$58,300	$25,200	$0	$200	$200	($200)	$0
($78,300)	($58,300)	($25,200)	($200)	$0	$0	$0	($3,300)	($3,300)
($22,100)	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
$221,900	$227,200	$239,700	$235,600	$240,400	$500	$240,900	$2,000	$242,900

Programs: (click linked program name to drill-down)
Judicial Conduct Commission
Total

2010 Actual	2011 Actual	2012 Actual	2013 Actual	2014 Approp	2014 Change	2014 Revised	2015 Change	2015 Approp
$221,900	$227,200	$239,700	$235,600	$240,400	$500	$240,900	$2,000	$242,900
$221,900	$227,200	$239,700	$235,600	$240,400	$500	$240,900	$2,000	$242,900

Categories of Expenditure (mouse-over category name for definition)
Personnel Services
In-state Travel
Out-of-state Travel
Current Expense
DP Current Expense
Total

2010 Actual	2011 Actual	2012 Actual	2013 Actual	2014 Approp	2014 Change	2014 Revised	2015 Change	2015 Approp
$186,800	$190,400	$195,600	$198,300	$201,400	$300	$201,700	$5,300	$207,000
$2,600	$2,000	$2,800	$1,200	$2,800	($1,600)	$1,200	$0	$1,200
$2,000	$4,400	$7,100	$2,600	$3,500	$2,400	$5,900	($3,300)	$2,600
$23,100	$23,800	$28,800	$24,100	$28,000	($2,000)	$26,000	($300)	$25,700
$7,400	$6,600	$5,400	$9,400	$4,700	$1,400	$6,100	$300	$6,400
$221,900	$227,200	$239,700	$235,600	$240,400	$500	$240,900	$2,000	$242,900

Other Indicators
Budgeted FTE
Actual FTE

2010 Actual	2011 Actual	2012 Actual	2013 Actual	2014 Approp	2014 Change	2014 Revised	2015 Change	2015 Approp
1.5	2.0	1.5	1.5	1.5	0.0	1.5	0.0	1.5
1.5	1.5	1.6	1.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	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.