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Council on Judicial Complaints asks modest appropriation as filings increase
Summary
The Council on Judicial Complaints said its funding mix shifted in FY25 after civil-filing revenues declined; the agency received a modest legislative appropriation and requested small increases for investigations, staff midpoint pay and judicial-discipline training.
The Council on Judicial Complaints told the House Appropriations and Budget Committee it moved from being funded entirely by civil filing fees to a mixed model after collections declined and the Legislature provided a $300,000 appropriation in FY25.
Director said the council investigates allegations of judicial misconduct, presents charges and recommendations to the court on the judiciary or, in lesser cases, to the chief justice and the Supreme Court. The council’s work is confidential by statute until formal action is required; the director said confidentiality rules limit what can be published but the council files quarterly reports to legislative leadership summarizing complaint volumes, sources and disposition categories.
Council staff described a recent rise in complaints — roughly 317 complaints the year the director cited — and explained that spikes often follow a public filing or high-profile matter or increase during election cycles. The agency reported it has expanded in the last year from two full-time employees to three and moved a general counsel role to an in-house full-time position to handle heavier caseloads more efficiently.
The council requested modest recurring increases: $25,000 for investigation support (postage, travel, subpoenas), funding to align staff pay to midpoint ranges and $50,000 every other year to provide judicial-discipline training for the court on the judiciary — an infrequent, specialized bench that the director said had not received regular training in decades. The director said the council will continue quarterly reporting to legislative leadership and offered to provide additional briefings if the committee requests them.
