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S.B. 62

             1     

JUDICIAL CONDUCT COMMISSION

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2006 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Michael G. Waddoups

             6     
House Sponsor: Neal B. Hendrickson

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill defines "judge" to include the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court and
             11      makes technical amendments.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines "judge" to include the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court;
             15          .    deletes a requirement that the chair and executive director of the Judicial Conduct
             16      Commission refer all policy matters to the commission;
             17          .    deletes a provision that required members of the commission to draw lots in 2002 to
             18      determine which members would serve two and four-year terms; and
             19          .    makes other technical amendments.
             20      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             21          None
             22      Other Special Clauses:
             23          None
             24      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             25      AMENDS:
             26          78-8-101, as last amended by Chapter 293, Laws of Utah 2004
             27          78-8-102, as last amended by Chapters 176 and 331, Laws of Utah 2002


             28          78-8-104, as last amended by Chapter 281, Laws of Utah 2003
             29          78-8-105, as enacted by Chapter 148, Laws of Utah 2000
             30          78-8-107, as last amended by Chapter 293, Laws of Utah 2004
             31     
             32      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             33          Section 1. Section 78-8-101 is amended to read:
             34           78-8-101. Definitions.
             35          As used in this chapter:
             36          (1) "Commission" means the Judicial Conduct Commission established by Utah
             37      Constitution Article VIII, Section 13 and Section 78-8-102 .
             38          (2) (a) "Complaint" includes:
             39          (i) a [formal] written complaint against a judge; or
             40          (ii) an allegation based on reliable information received in any form, from any source,
             41      that alleges, or from which a reasonable inference can be drawn that a judge is in violation of
             42      any provision of Utah Constitution Article VIII, Section 13.
             43          (b) "Complaint" does not include an allegation initiated by the commission or its staff.
             44          (3) "Investigation" means an inquiry into an allegation of misconduct, including a
             45      search for and examination of evidence concerning the allegations, which begins upon the
             46      receipt of a complaint and is completed when either the complaint is dismissed by a majority
             47      vote of the commission or when an order is sent to the Supreme Court for its review in
             48      accordance with Utah Constitution Article VIII, Section 13.
             49          (4) [Except as more specifically provided in Subsections 78-8-104 (1) and (2), "judge"
             50      includes] "Judge" includes the chief justice of the Supreme Court, a justice of the Supreme
             51      Court, an appellate court judge, a district court judge, an active senior judge, a juvenile court
             52      judge, a justice court judge, an active senior justice court judge, and a judge pro tempore of any
             53      court of this state.
             54          Section 2. Section 78-8-102 is amended to read:
             55           78-8-102. Judicial Conduct Commission -- Creation -- Members -- Terms --
             56      Vacancies -- Voting -- Expenses -- Power of chair.
             57          (1) The membership of the [Judicial Conduct Commission] commission established by
             58      Article VIII, Section 13 of the Utah Constitution consists of:


             59          (a) two members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the
             60      House of Representatives for a four-year term, not more than one of whom may be of the same
             61      political party as the speaker;
             62          (b) two members of the Senate to be appointed by the president of the Senate for a
             63      four-year term, not more than one of whom may be of the same political party as the president;
             64          (c) two members of, and in good standing with, the Utah State Bar, who shall be
             65      appointed by a majority of the Utah Supreme Court for a four-year term, none of whom may
             66      reside in the same judicial district;
             67          (d) three persons not members of the Utah State Bar, who shall be appointed by the
             68      governor, with the consent of the Senate, for four-year terms, not more than two of whom may
             69      be of the same political party as the governor;
             70          (e) one member of the Utah Court of Appeals to be selected by a majority of the Utah
             71      Supreme Court for a four-year term; and
             72          (f) one judge from a trial court of record to be selected by a majority of the Utah
             73      Supreme Court for a four-year term.
             74          (2) (a) The terms of the members shall be staggered so that approximately half of the
             75      commission expires every two years.
             76          (b) All members of the commission shall serve no longer than eight years.
             77          (3) The commission shall establish guidelines and procedures for the disqualification
             78      of any member from consideration of any matter.
             79          (4) (a) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall
             80      be appointed by the appointing authority for the unexpired term.
             81          (b) If the appointing authority fails to appoint a replacement, the commissioners who
             82      have been appointed may act as a commission under all the provisions of this section.
             83          (5) Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. Any action of a majority
             84      of the quorum constitutes the action of the commission.
             85          (6) (a) (i) Members who are not government employees shall receive no compensation
             86      or benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the
             87      performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance
             88      under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
             89          (ii) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.


             90          (b) (i) State government officer and employee members who do not receive salary, per
             91      diem, or expenses from their agency for their service may receive per diem and expenses
             92      incurred in the performance of their official duties from the commission at the rates established
             93      by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
             94          (ii) State government officer and employee members may decline to receive per diem
             95      and expenses for their service.
             96          (c) Legislators on the commission shall receive compensation and expenses as
             97      provided in Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rule 15.03.
             98          (d) (i) The chair shall be allowed the actual expenses of secretarial services, the
             99      expenses of services for either a court reporter or a transcriber of electronic tape recordings,
             100      and other necessary administrative expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of the
             101      commission.
             102          (ii) At each commission meeting, the chair and executive director shall schedule all
             103      complaints to be heard by the commission and present any information from which a
             104      reasonable inference can be drawn that a judge has committed misconduct so that the
             105      commission may determine by majority vote of a quorum whether the executive director shall
             106      draft a written complaint in accordance with Subsection 78-8-101 (2)(b).
             107          (iii) The chair and executive director [shall refer all policy matters to the commission
             108      and] may not act to dismiss any complaint without a majority vote of a quorum of the
             109      commission.
             110          (7) It is the responsibility of the chair and the executive director to ensure that the
             111      commission [comply] complies with the procedures of the commission.
             112          (8) The chair shall be nonvoting except in the case of a tie vote.
             113          (9) Upon a majority vote of the quorum, the commission may:
             114          (a) employ an executive director, legal counsel, investigators, and other staff to assist
             115      the commission; and
             116          (b) incur other reasonable and necessary expenses within the authorized budget of the
             117      commission and consistent with the duties of the commission.
             118          [(10) Members serving on January 1, 2002, shall serve from the date of their
             119      appointment until June 30, 2002. After July 1, 2002, members shall be appointed as provided
             120      in Section 78-8-102 , except that those appointed shall draw by lot for terms of office of two


             121      and four years so that the terms of office of approximately half of the commission members
             122      shall expire every two years.]
             123          Section 3. Section 78-8-104 is amended to read:
             124           78-8-104. Criminal investigation of a judge -- Administrative leave.
             125          (1) (a) If the commission, during the course of its investigation into an allegation of
             126      judicial misconduct, receives information upon which a reasonable person might conclude that
             127      a misdemeanor or felony under state or federal law has been committed by [an appellate court
             128      judge, a district court judge, an active senior judge, a juvenile court judge, a justice court judge,
             129      an active senior justice court judge, or a judge pro tempore,] a judge other than the chief justice
             130      of the Supreme Court, the commission shall immediately refer the allegation and any
             131      information relevant to the potential criminal violation to the chief justice of the Supreme
             132      Court.
             133          (b) The chief justice of the Supreme Court may place [the appellate court judge, district
             134      court judge, active senior judge, juvenile court judge, justice court judge, active senior justice
             135      court judge, or judge pro tempore] the judge on administrative leave with or without pay if the
             136      chief justice has a reasonable basis to believe that the alleged crime occurred, that the appellate
             137      court judge, district court judge, active senior judge, juvenile court judge, justice court judge,
             138      active senior justice court judge, or judge pro tempore committed the crime, and that crime was
             139      either a felony or a misdemeanor which conduct may be prejudicial to the administration of
             140      justice or which brings a judicial office into disrepute.
             141          (2) (a) If the commission, during the course of its investigation into an allegation of
             142      judicial misconduct, receives information upon which a reasonable person might conclude that
             143      a misdemeanor or felony under state or federal law has been committed by the chief justice of
             144      the Supreme Court, the commission shall immediately refer the allegation and any information
             145      relevant to the potential criminal violation to two justices of the Supreme Court.
             146          (b) Two justices of the Supreme Court may place the chief justice of the Supreme
             147      Court on administrative leave with or without pay if the two justices have a reasonable basis to
             148      believe that the alleged crime occurred, that the chief justice committed the crime, and that
             149      crime was either a felony or a misdemeanor which conduct may be prejudicial to the
             150      administration of justice or which brings a judicial office into disrepute.
             151          (3) (a) If a judge is or has been criminally charged or indicted for a class A


             152      misdemeanor or any felony under state or federal law and if the Supreme Court has not already
             153      acted under Subsection (1) or (2), the appropriate member or members of the Supreme Court as
             154      provided in Subsection (1) or (2), shall place the judge on administrative leave with or without
             155      pay pending the outcome of the criminal proceeding.
             156          (b) The administrator of the courts shall, for the duration of the administrative leave,
             157      withhold all employer and employee contributions required under Sections 49-17-301 and
             158      49-18-301 .
             159          (c) If the judge is not convicted of the criminal charge, and if after an investigation and
             160      final disposition of the case by the Judicial Conduct Commission, the judge is reinstated by the
             161      Supreme Court as provided in Subsection (4), then the judge shall be paid the salary or
             162      compensation for the period of administrative leave, and all contributions withheld under
             163      Subsection (3)(b) shall be deposited in accordance with Sections 49-17-301 and 49-18-301 .
             164          (4) The chief justice of the Supreme Court or two justices of the Supreme Court who
             165      ordered the judge on administrative leave shall order the reinstatement of the judge:
             166          (a) if the prosecutor to whom the allegations are referred by the commission as
             167      required under Section 78-8-107 , determines no charge or indictment should be filed; or
             168          (b) after final disposition of the criminal case, if the judge is not convicted of a
             169      criminal charge and if the [Judicial Conduct Commission] commission has not ordered the
             170      removal of the judge.
             171          Section 4. Section 78-8-105 is amended to read:
             172           78-8-105. Referral of attorney misconduct.
             173          If the commission, during the course of its investigation into an allegation of judicial
             174      misconduct, receives information upon which a reasonable person might conclude that a
             175      member of the state bar has violated one of the Rules of Professional Conduct, the commission
             176      shall refer that information about the attorney to the Office of Professional Conduct of the Utah
             177      State Bar.
             178          Section 5. Section 78-8-107 is amended to read:
             179           78-8-107. Authority of Judicial Conduct Commission -- Disclosure of criminal
             180      misconduct or information -- Procedure for reprimand, censure, suspension, removal, or
             181      involuntary retirement -- Certain orders made public.
             182          (1) (a) The commission shall receive and investigate any complaint against a judge.


             183          (b) (i) If the commission receives a complaint that alleges conduct that may be a
             184      misdemeanor or felony under state or federal law, it shall, unless the allegation is plainly
             185      frivolous, immediately refer the allegation of criminal misconduct and any information
             186      relevant to the potential criminal violation to the local prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction
             187      to investigate and prosecute the crime.
             188          (ii) If the local prosecuting attorney receiving the allegation of criminal misconduct of
             189      a judge practices before that judge on a regular basis, or has a conflict of interest in
             190      investigating the crime, the local prosecuting attorney shall refer this allegation of criminal
             191      misconduct to another local or state prosecutor who would not have that same disability or
             192      conflict.
             193          (iii) The commission may concurrently proceed with its investigation of the complaint
             194      without waiting for the resolution of the criminal investigation by the prosecuting attorney.
             195          (2) During the course of any investigation, the commission:
             196          (a) shall refer any information relating to the criminal conduct alleged and any
             197      evidence which relates to the allegation to which the judge has been accused, unless plainly
             198      frivolous, to the local prosecuting attorney as provided in Subsection (1)(b); and
             199          (b) may order a hearing to be held concerning the reprimand, censure, suspension,
             200      removal, or involuntary retirement of a judge.
             201          (3) The commission shall provide the judge with all information necessary to prepare
             202      an adequate response or defense, which may include the identity of the complainant.
             203          (4) (a) A hearing may be conducted before a quorum of the commission.
             204          (b) Any finding or order shall be made upon a majority vote of the quorum.
             205          (5) Alternatively, the commission may appoint three special masters, who are judges of
             206      courts of record, to hear and take evidence in the matter and to report to the commission.
             207          (6) (a) After the hearing or after considering the record and report of the masters, if the
             208      commission finds by a preponderance of the evidence that misconduct occurred, it shall order
             209      the reprimand, censure, suspension, removal, or involuntary retirement of the judge.
             210          (b) When a commission order is sent to the Supreme Court, it shall also be:
             211          (i) publicly disclosed; and
             212          (ii) sent to the entity that appointed the judge.
             213          (7) When the commission issues any order, including a stipulated order, that is sent to


             214      the Supreme Court, the record shall include:
             215          (a) the original complaint and any other information regarding violations, or potential
             216      violations, of the Code of Judicial Conduct;
             217          (b) the [notice of] charges;
             218          (c) all correspondence and other documents which passed between the commission and
             219      the judge;
             220          (d) all letters which may explain the charges;
             221          (e) all affidavits, subpoenas, and testimony of witnesses;
             222          (f) the commission's findings of fact and conclusions of law;
             223          (g) a transcript of any proceedings, including hearings on motions;
             224          (h) [a transcript of the evidence] a copy of each exhibit admitted into evidence;
             225          (i) a summary of all the complaints dismissed by the commission against the judge
             226      which contained allegations or information similar in nature to the misconduct under review by
             227      the Supreme Court;
             228          (j) a summary of all the orders implemented, rejected, or modified by the Supreme
             229      Court against the judge; and
             230          (k) all information in the commission's files on any informal resolution, including any
             231      letter of admonition, comment, or caution, that the commission issued against the judge prior to
             232      May 1, 2000.
             233          (8) (a) Before the implementation, rejection, or modification of any commission order
             234      [issued under Subsections (2), (6), and (7)] the Supreme Court shall:
             235          (i) review the commission's proceedings as to both law and fact and may permit the
             236      introduction of additional evidence; and
             237          (ii) consider the number and nature of previous orders issued by the Supreme Court
             238      and may increase the severity of the order based on a pattern or practice of misconduct or for
             239      any other reason that the Supreme Court finds just and proper.
             240          (b) In recommending any order, including stipulated orders, the commission may not
             241      place, or attempt to place, any condition or limitation upon the Supreme Court's constitutional
             242      power to:
             243          (i) review the commission's proceedings as to both law and fact; or
             244          (ii) implement, reject, or modify a commission order.


             245          (c) After briefs have been submitted and any oral argument made, the Supreme Court
             246      shall, within 90 days, issue its order implementing, rejecting, or modifying the commission's
             247      order.
             248          (9) (a) Upon an order for involuntary retirement, the judge shall retire with the same
             249      rights and privileges as if the judge retired pursuant to statute.
             250          (b) Upon an order for removal, the judge shall be removed from office and his salary or
             251      compensation ceases from the date of the order.
             252          (c) Upon an order for suspension from office, the judge may not perform any judicial
             253      functions and may not receive a salary for the period of suspension.
             254          (10) (a) The transmission, production, or disclosure of any complaints, papers, or
             255      testimony in the course of proceedings before the commission, the masters appointed under
             256      Subsection (5), or the Supreme Court may not be introduced in any civil action.
             257          (b) The transmission, production, or disclosure of any complaints, papers, or testimony
             258      in the course of proceedings before the commission or the masters appointed under Subsection
             259      (5) may be introduced in any criminal action, consistent with the Utah Rules of Evidence. This
             260      information shall be shared with the prosecutor conducting a criminal investigation or
             261      prosecution of a judge as provided in Subsections (1) and (2).
             262          (c) Complaints, papers, testimony, or the record of the commission's confidential
             263      hearing may not be disclosed by the commission, masters, or any court until the Supreme Court
             264      has entered its final order in accordance with this section, except:
             265          (i) upon order of the Supreme Court;
             266          (ii) upon the request of the judge who is the subject of the complaint;
             267          (iii) as provided in Subsection (10)(d);
             268          (iv) to aid in a criminal investigation or prosecution as provided in Subsections (1) and
             269      (2); or
             270          (v) this information is subject to audit by the Office of Legislative Auditor General,
             271      and any records released to the Office of Legislative Auditor General shall be maintained as
             272      confidential, except:
             273          (A) for information that has already been made public; and
             274          (B) the final written and oral audit report of the Legislative Auditor General may
             275      present information about the [Judicial Conduct Commission] commission as long as it


             276      contains no specific information that would easily identify a judge, witness, or complainant.
             277          (d) Upon the dismissal of a complaint or allegation against a judge, the dismissal shall
             278      be disclosed without consent of the judge to the person who filed the complaint.
             279          (11) The commission shall make rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah
             280      Administrative Rulemaking Act, outlining its procedures and the appointment of masters.
             281          (12) A judge who is a member of the commission or the Supreme Court may not
             282      participate in any proceedings involving the judge's own removal or retirement.
             283          (13) Retirement for involuntary retirement as provided in this chapter shall be
             284      processed through the Utah State Retirement Office, and the judge retiring shall meet the
             285      requirements for retirement as specified in this chapter.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-9-06 10:22 AM


Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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