S.B. 29 Enrolled

LEGISLATIVE REPORTING AND ACCESS
TO CERTAIN INFORMATION
2003 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Mike Dmitrich
This act amends provisions in the Judicial Code to allow for audit by the Office of
Legislative Auditor General. This act provides an immediate effective date.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
78-8-107, as last amended by Chapter 331, Laws of Utah 2002
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 78-8-107 is amended to read:
78-8-107. Authority of Judicial Conduct Commission -- Disclosure of criminal
misconduct or information -- Procedure for reprimand, censure, removal, suspension, or
involuntary retirement -- Certain orders made public.
(1) (a) The commission shall receive and investigate any complaint against a judge.
(b) (i) If the commission receives a complaint that alleges conduct that may be a
misdemeanor or felony under state or federal law, it shall, unless the allegation is plainly
frivolous, immediately refer the allegation of criminal misconduct and any information
relevant to the potential criminal violation to the local prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction
to investigate and prosecute the crime.
(ii) If the local prosecuting attorney receiving the allegation of criminal misconduct of
a judge practices before that judge on a regular basis, or has a conflict of interest in
investigating the crime, the local prosecuting attorney shall refer this allegation of criminal
misconduct to another local or state prosecutor who would not have that same disability or
conflict.
(iii) The commission may concurrently proceed with its investigation of the complaint
without waiting for the resolution of the criminal investigation by the prosecuting attorney.
(2) During the course of any investigation, the commission:

(a) shall refer any information relating to the criminal conduct alleged and any evidence
which relates to the allegation to which the judge has been accused, unless plainly frivolous, to
the local prosecuting attorney as provided in Subsection (1)(b);
(b) may order a hearing to be held concerning the reprimand, censure, suspension,
removal, or involuntary retirement of a judge;
(c) may, with the written consent of the judge being investigated, resolve a complaint by
issuing an informal order of reprimand which shall be disclosed to:
(i) the person who filed the complaint;
(ii) the judge who is the subject of the complaint;
(iii) the Judicial Council for its use in the judicial recertification process;
(iv) the Supreme Court for issuance of its final order as provided in Subsection (7); and
(v) the person who appointed the municipal justice court judge; and
(d) may, with the written consent of the judge receiving the informal order of reprimand
under Subsection (2)(c), publicly disclose the commission's informal order of reprimand.
(3) The commission shall provide the judge with all information necessary to prepare an
adequate response or defense, which may include the identity of the complainant.
(4) (a) A hearing may be conducted before a quorum of the commission.
(b) Any finding or order shall be made upon a majority vote of the quorum.
(5) Alternatively, the commission may appoint three special masters, who are judges of
courts of record, to hear and take evidence in the matter and to report to the commission.
(6) (a) After the hearing or after considering the record and report of the masters, if the
commission finds by a preponderance of the evidence that misconduct occurred, it shall order the
reprimand, censure, suspension, removal, or involuntary retirement of the judge.
(b) When a commission order is sent to the Supreme Court, it shall also be:
(i) publicly disclosed; and
(ii) sent to the person or entity who appointed the judge.
(c) Subsection (6)(b)(i) does not apply to a commission informal order of reprimand.
(7) When the commission issues any order, including a stipulated order, that is sent to the

- 2 -

Supreme Court, the record shall include:
(a) the original complaint and any other information regarding violations, or potential
violations, of the Code of Judicial Conduct;
(b) the notice of charges;
(c) all correspondence and other documents which passed between the commission and
the judge;
(d) all letters which may explain the charges;
(e) all affidavits, subpoenas, and testimony of witnesses;
(f) the commission's findings of fact and conclusions of law;
(g) a transcript of any proceedings, including hearings on motions;
(h) a transcript of the evidence;
(i) a summary of all the complaints dismissed by the commission against the judge which
contained allegations or information similar in nature to the misconduct under review by the
Supreme Court;
(j) a summary of all the orders implemented, rejected, or modified by the Supreme Court
against the judge; and
(k) all information in the commission's files on any informal resolution, including any
letter of admonition, comment, or caution, that the commission issued against the judge prior to
May 1, 2000.
(8) (a) Before the implementation, rejection, or modification of any commission order
issued under Subsections (2), (6), and (7) the Supreme Court shall:
(i) review the commission's proceedings as to both law and fact and may permit the
introduction of additional evidence; and
(ii) consider the number and nature of previous orders issued by the Supreme Court and
may increase the severity of the order based on a pattern or practice of misconduct or for any
other reason that the Supreme Court finds just and proper.
(b) In recommending any order, including stipulated orders, the commission may not
place, or attempt to place, any condition or limitation upon the Supreme Court's constitutional

- 3 -

power to:
(i) review the commission's proceedings as to both law and fact; or
(ii) implement, reject, or modify a commission order.
(c) After briefs have been submitted and any oral argument made, the Supreme Court
shall, within 90 days, issue its order implementing, rejecting, or modifying the commission's
order[; and].
(9) (a) Upon an order for involuntary retirement, the judge shall retire with the same
rights and privileges as if the judge retired pursuant to statute.
(b) Upon an order for removal, the judge shall be removed from office and his salary or
compensation ceases from the date of the order.
(c) Upon an order for suspension from office, the judge may not perform any judicial
functions and may not receive a salary for the period of suspension.
(10) (a) The transmission, production, or disclosure of any complaints, papers, or
testimony in the course of proceedings before the commission, the masters appointed under
Subsection (5), or the Supreme Court may not be introduced in any civil action.
(b) The transmission, production, or disclosure of any complaints, papers, or testimony in
the course of proceedings before the commission or the masters appointed under Subsection (5)
may be introduced in any criminal action, consistent with the Utah Rules of Evidence. This
information shall be shared with the prosecutor conducting a criminal investigation or
prosecution of a judge as provided in Subsections (1) and (2).
(c) Complaints, papers, testimony, or the record of the commission's confidential hearing
may not be disclosed by the commission, masters, or any court until the Supreme Court has
entered its final order in accordance with this section, except:
(i) upon order of the Supreme Court;
(ii) upon the request of the judge who is the subject of the complaint;
(iii) as provided in Subsection (10)(d); [or]
(iv) to aid in a criminal investigation or prosecution as provided in Subsections (1) and
(2)[.]; or

- 4 -

(v) this information is subject to audit by the Office of Legislative Auditor General, and
any records released to the Office of Legislative Auditor General shall be maintained as
confidential, except:
(A) for information that has already been made public; and
(B) the final written and oral audit report of the Legislative Auditor General may present
information about the Judicial Conduct Commission as long as it contains no specific
information that would easily identify a judge, witness, or complainant.
(d) Upon the dismissal of a complaint or allegation against a judge, the dismissal shall be
disclosed without consent of the judge to the person who filed the complaint.
(11) The commission shall make rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, outlining its procedures and the appointment of masters.
(12) A judge who is a member of the commission or the Supreme Court may not
participate in any proceedings involving the judge's own removal or retirement.
(13) Retirement for involuntary retirement as provided in this chapter shall be processed
through the Utah State Retirement Office, and the judge retiring shall meet the requirements for
retirement as specified in this chapter.
Section 2. Effective date.
If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this act takes effect
upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto, the
date of veto override.

- 5 -