Brief Description: Changing the membership of the commission on judicial conduct.

Sponsors: Representatives Williams, Lovick, Priest, Flannigan and Serben.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Judiciary:

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: The Commission on Judicial Conduct (Commission) handles complaints about judges who may have violated the rules of judicial conduct. The Commission is authorized to receive complaints, conduct investigations, hold hearings, impose certain types of discipline, and make other disciplinary recommendations to the Supreme Court. The Commission is authorized by statute to investigate judicial officers at all levels of the state's court system, including justices, judges, judges pro tempore, court commissioners, and magistrates.

The Commission consists of 11 persons: one judge selected by and from the court of appeals' judges; one judge selected by and from the superior court judges; one judge selected by and from the district court judges; two attorneys selected by the bar association; and six lay persons selected by the Governor with Senate confirmation.

Municipal courts may be departments of district courts, but they may also be independent city courts. Both district and municipal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction.

Summary of Bill: A constitutional amendment is made, changing the composition of the Judicial Conduct Commission to include a judge selected by and from the limited jurisdiction court judges (not a judge selected by and from the district court judges).

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.