Utah Code Jud. Admin. 3-201.02

As amended through October 28, 2024

Rule 3-201.02 - Court Commissioner Conduct Committee

Intent:

To establish a procedure for the review of complaints filed against court commissioners.

Applicability:

This rule shall apply to all trial courts of record.

Statement of the Rule:

(1)Court Commissioner Conduct Committee.

(1)(A) The Court Commissioner Conduct Committee is established to:

(1)(A)(i) receive, review, and investigate any complaint filed against a court commissioner;

(1)(A)(ii) conduct any hearing related to a complaint, and

(1)(A)(iii) make recommendations to the Council and the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves regarding corrective actions or removal of the commissioner pursuant to CJA 3-201, where the Committee finds misconduct by a preponderance of the evidence. For purposes of this rule, "misconduct" means:

(1)(A)(iii)(a) action that constitutes willful misconduct in office;

(1)(A)(iii)(b) final conviction of a crime punishable as a felony under state or federal law;

(1)(A)(iii)(c) willful and persistent failure to perform commissioner duties; or

(1)(A)(iii)(d) violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

(1)(B) The Committee consists of the following members:

(1)(B)(i) the Court of Appeals member of the Ethics Advisory Committee, who shall serve as chair of the Committee;

(1)(B)(ii) two presiding judges from judicial districts with a court commissioner, which presiding judges shall be from districts other than the district the commissioner primarily serves;

(1)(B)(iii) the immediate past Bar Commissioner member of the Council;

(1)(B)(iv) the chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct.

(1)(C)Circumstances which require recusal of a judge shall require recusal of a Committee member from participation in Committee action.

(1)(C)(i) If the chair is recused, a majority of the remaining members shall select from among themselves a chair pro tempore.

(1)(C)(ii) If a presiding judge is recused, the chair shall temporarily appoint a presiding judge of another judicial district with a commissioner.

(1)(C)(iii) If the immediate past Bar Commissioner member of the Council is recused or otherwise unable to serve, the chair shall temporarily appoint another past Bar Commissioner member of the Council.

(1)(C)(iv) If the chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct is recused or otherwise unable to serve, the chair shall temporarily appoint another member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct.

(1)(D) Three members of the Committee constitute a quorum. Any action of a majority of the quorum constitutes the action of the Committee. The chair shall vote only as necessary to break a tie vote. The Committee shall be organized and meet only as often as necessary to resolve a complaint not previously dismissed by the chair pursuant to paragraph (2)(C) below. Committee members may attend meetings in person, by telephone, by videoconference, or by other means approved in advance by the chair.

(1)(E)The confidentiality of all actions and materials related to a complaint, hearing, appeal, and Council review are governed by Rule 4-202.02, other than any public censure by the Council.

(2)Complaint submission and initial review.

(2)(A) A person who has a complaint against a commissioner shall submit a copy of the complaint to the Committee chair.

(2)(B) Each complaint shall be in writing and shall contain:

(2)(B)(i) the complainant's name;

(2)(B)(ii) the complainant's preferred contact information;

(2)(B)(iii) the name of the involved commissioner;

(2)(B)(iv) a description of the commissioner's actions in sufficient detail to inform the Committee of the nature and date of the alleged misconduct; and

(2)(B)(v) when possible, supporting documentation.

Upon receiving a complaint, the chair shall conduct an initial review to determine if the allegations raise an issue that would be appropriately addressed by the full Committee. The chair shall dismiss frivolous complaints and complaints found to raise only issues of law or fact for which the remedy is the review of the case by the trial court judge or by an appellate court. If the chair dismisses a complaint following initial review, the chair shall provide notice of and basis for the dismissal to the complainant, the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves, and the commissioner. The chair shall refer any complaint not dismissed following initial review to the full Committee.

(3)Committee examination

(3)(A) The Committee shall examine any complaint referred to it by the chair under paragraph (2)(C) to determine whether dismissal or a hearing is appropriate. In connection with this examination, the committee may conduct an investigation of the allegations made in the complaint, including review of any relevant court file, hearing transcripts, and related materials.

(3)(B) If the Committee dismisses the complaint after examination, the chair shall provide notice of and basis for the dismissal to the complainant, the commissioner, and the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves.

(3)(C) If the Committee determines that the matter should proceed to a hearing, the chair shall send notice to the complainant, the commissioner, and the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves. The notice shall:

(3)(C)(i) inform the commissioner of the allegations and the canons allegedly violated;

(3)(C)(ii) invite the commissioner to respond to the allegations in writing within 30 days; and

(3)(C)(iii) include a copy of the complaint.

(3)(D) If the commissioner chooses to respond to the allegations, the commissioner shall send a copy of the response to the complainant, the Committee chair, and the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves.

(3)(E) At any time prior to a hearing, the complainant may request to withdraw his or her complaint. If such a request is made, the Committee may grant the request and dismiss the complaint, or it may deny the request and proceed with the hearing.

(4) Hearings of the Court Commissioner Conduct Committee.

(4)(A) If the Committee determines that a matter should proceed to a hearing under paragraph (3), a hearing shall be scheduled after receipt of the commissioner's response or expiration of the time to respond in paragraph (3)(C)(ii). Notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing shall be sent to the complainant, the commissioner, and the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves.

(4)(B) Hearings shall be closed to the public.

(4)(C) Not later than 20 days before the hearing, the commissioner and complainant shall exchange all proposed exhibits and a list of all potential witnesses. The commissioner and the complainant are not considered witnesses.

(4)(D) The commissioner and complainant may be present at the hearing and have the assistance of counsel.

(4)(E) The Committee shall interview the complainant, the commissioner, and any witnesses determined by the Committee to have relevant information. The commissioner and complainant have the right to testify.

(4)(F) The complainant may ask the Committee to pose specific questions to the commissioner, and the commissioner may ask the Committee to pose specific questions to the complainant. But ordinarily, neither the complainant nor the commissioner, whether acting on their own or through counsel, will be allowed to cross-examine the other unless, upon request, the Committee chair determines that cross-examination would materially assist the Committee in its deliberation.

(4)(G) The commissioner and complainant may present, examine, and cross-examine witnesses.

(4)(H) Testimony shall be presented under oath and a record of the proceedings maintained.

(4)(I) At any time before final decision by the Committee, the commissioner may admit some or all of the allegations in the complaint, and may stipulate to findings and recommendations by the Committee.

(4)(J) Within 30 days after the completion of the hearing, the Committee shall make written findings and conclusions concerning the allegations in the complaint and provide a copy to the complainant, the commissioner, the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves, and the Council.

(4)(K) If the Committee finds misconduct by a preponderance of the evidence, the Committee shall recommend appropriate corrective actions under CJA Rule 3-160 201.

(4)(L) In making recommendations for corrective actions, the Committee shall consider the following non-exclusive factors:

(4)(L)(i) the nature of the misconduct;

(4)(L)(ii) the gravity of the misconduct;

(4)(L)(iii) the extent to which the misconduct has been reported to or is known by the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves or the commissioner, and the source of the dissemination of information;

(4)(L)(iv) the extent to which the commissioner has accepted responsibility for the misconduct;

(4)(L)(v) the extent to which the commissioner has made efforts to avoid repeating the same or similar misconduct;

(4)(L)(vi) the length of the commissioner's service with the courts;

(4)(L)(vii) the effect the misconduct has had upon the confidence of court employees, participants in the judicial system, or the public in the integrity or impartiality of the judiciary;

(4)(L)(viii) the extent to which the commissioner profited or satisfied his or her personal desires as a result of the misconduct; and

(4)(L)(ix) the number and type of previous corrective actions against the commissioner.

(4)(M) At the conclusion of the Committee's work, a copy of the complete file shall be delivered to the State Court Administrator or designee.

(5)Council review of committee action.

(5)(A) Appeals from decisions without a hearing.

(5)(A)(i) Complaints dismissed prior to hearing, either by the chair under paragraph (2)(C) or by the Committee under paragraph (3)(B), may be appealed by the complainant to the Judicial Council. All such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Chair of the Council, and must be 188 received within 30 days of the notice of dismissal. In the appeal, the complainant must set forth the specific grounds on which the appeal is based. A copy of the appeal shall be provided to the Committee chair, the commissioner, and the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves.

(5)(A)(ii) The Council, a designated Council member, or a committee of the Council shall conduct a de novo review of the file, and shall either affirm the dismissal, or shall require the Court Commissioner Conduct Committee to set the matter for hearing or re-hearing.

(5)(A)(iii) The Council's decision shall be in writing and a copy provided to the Committee chair, the complainant, the commissioner, and the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves.

(5)(A)(iv) If the dismissal is affirmed, the complainant has no other right of appeal.

(5)(B) Council review following a hearing.

(5)(B)(i) The Committee's findings, conclusions, and recommendations following a hearing will be reviewed by the Council, and considered at a meeting of the Council to be held at least 45 days after issuance of the Committee's decision.

(5)(B)(ii) The complainant, the commissioner, or presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves may file objections to the Committee's findings, conclusions or recommendations. Any such objections must be submitted in writing to the Council within 30 days of the date the Committee's findings, conclusions, and recommendations were issued.

(5)(B)(iii) No person other than the members of the Council are entitled to attend the Council meeting at which the Committee's decision is reviewed.

(5)(B)(iv) In conducting its review, the Council shall review the record of the Committee's hearing, and shall determine whether to adopt, modify, or reject the Committee's findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including any recommendations for corrective action.

(5)(B)(v) The Council's decision shall be in writing and provided to the Committee chair, the commissioner, the complainant, and the presiding judge(s) of the district(s) the commissioner serves.

(5)(B)(vi) The decision reached by the Council after review is final and is not appealable.

(5)(C) Annual Report. The chair of the Committee shall report to the Council not less than annually on the Committee's work including a general description of any complaint dismissed without a hearing.

Utah Code Jud. Admin. 3-201.02

Amended December 22, 2020, effective 5/1/2021.