The Commission has authority to investigate complaints involving the following:
· Willful misconduct in office.
· Willful and persistent failure to perform duties.
· Habitual intemperance.
· Permanent disabilities that interfere with judicial duties.
· A violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
· Conduct that brings the judiciary into disrepute.
The Commission's primary concern is judicial behavior, not judicial decision-making. Only a higher court can overturn a judge's decision or ruling. The Commission is not a court and cannot change a judge's decision (including child custody orders), intervene in a pending case, remove a judge from a case, or award damages or other monetary relief to litigants.
Complaints that allege misconduct solely on the basis of a judge's decisions will be dismissed without investigation. Neither the Commission nor its staff can provide legal assistance or advice.
Commission Enabling Rules - Supreme Court Rule 209
Commission Internal Operating Procedures