Section 28-2010. INVESTIGATIONS  


Latest version.
  •  

    2010.1The Commission may investigate to determine whether a proceeding should be instituted on charges of misconduct, failure to perform judicial duties, or disability, upon receiving information regarding the following by complaint or otherwise:

     

    (a) That a judge may have been guilty of willful misconduct in office or willful and persistent failure to perform his or her judicial duties; or

     

    (b) That a judge engaged in other conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice or which brings the judicial office into disrepute; or

     

    (c) That a judge may have a mental or physical disability (including habitual intemperance) which is or is likely to become permanent and which prevents, or seriously interferes with, the proper performance of his or her judicial duties.

     

    2010.2The investigation may be carried out in a manner that the Commission deems appropriate, including the taking of evidence at Commission meetings or by deposition.

     

    2010.3

    (a)A respondent judge shall cooperate with the Commission in the course of its investigation and shall, within such reasonable time as the Commission may require, respond to any inquiry concerning the conduct of the judge, whether the questioned conduct occurred during the course of a concluded case or matter, a pending case or matter or in an extrajudicial context.  The failure or refusal of the judge to respond may be considered a failure to cooperate.

     

    (b)The failure or refusal of a judge to cooperate in an investigation, or the use of dilatory practices, frivolous or unfounded responses or argument, or other uncooperative behavior may be considered a violation of Canon 1 of the Code of Judicial Conduct and, therefore, an independent ground for disciplinary action.

     

    2010.4After investigation, if the Commission determines that a proceeding should not be instituted, the Commission shall so inform the judge if he or she was previously informed of the pendency of the complaint by either the complainant or the Commission and shall give notice to the complainant either that there is insufficient cause to proceed or that the complaint poses a legal issue over which the Commission has no jurisdiction, as appropriate.

     

     

authority

D.C. Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970, effective July 29, 1970 (84 Stat. 473, 91 Pub. L. 91-358; D.C. Official Code, § 11-1525(a) (2012 Repl.)) and § 431(d)(3) of the District of Columbia Self Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, effective December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 774, Pub.L. 93-198).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 24 DCR 9391, 9395 (May 5, 1978); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 6032 (September 14, 1990); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 39 DCR 9333 (December 11, 1992); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 108 (January 6, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 12322 (December 21, 2007); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 6302 (July 7, 2017).