772A9EB9D2D692088725889A00571FED Hearing Summary

Charles Geyh, Professor of Law at Indiana University, introduced himself and discussed his background.  He provided a brief history of judicial discipline, including the evolution of standards of conducts and judicial system accountability.  He further explained judicial discipline system structure and noted that it is common for state supreme courts to have the final say.  He provided examples of other methods when a state supreme court justice is the subject of a judicial discipline case. 

He next discussed transparency and confidentiality and the role of non-lawyers in judicial discipline. 

Committee members asked questions about the judicial discipline process in Illinois.  Discussion ensued about the Pennsylvania model, and Professor Geyh emphasized keeping supreme court justices out of  judicial discipline proceedings when it is about one of them.   Discussion continued about the final decision making authority, alternative structures, and membership. 

Committee members inquired about the point in which complaints or rulings become public.   The committee discussed access to information and discovery-related issues.