APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 16-1A
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
II. JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS.
III. JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE.
IV. JUDICIAL ELECTIONS.
V. IMMUNITY.
VI. JUDICIAL ETHICS COMMITTEE.
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Definitions.
In these rules, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:
(1) "Commission" means the commission on judicial qualifications provided for in § 9, Art. V of the Constitution of South Dakota, and SDCL 16-1A-2.
(2) "Judge" means a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the circuit court, or a judge of a court of limited jurisdiction who is the subject of an investigation or proceeding under § 9, article V of the Constitution of the state of South Dakota.
(3) "Chair" includes the acting chair of the commission.
(4) "Judicial Code" is the South Dakota Code of Judicial Conduct.
(5) "Commission Counsel" means the attorney general or counsel designated by the commission to gather and present evidence before the commission on charges against a judge.
(6) "Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.
(7) "Mail" and "mailed" includes registered or certified mail.
(8) The masculine gender includes the feminine gender.
(9) "Deferred Discipline Agreement" is a confidential agreement between the judge and the commission for the judge to undergo treatment, participate in education programs or take other corrective action.
(10) "Service" is the transmission of a document or documents to a designated person by (1) mailing said documents to that person or (2) personally delivering said documents to that person.
2. Organization of Commission.
(a) The commission shall by majority vote each year elect one of their number as chair, one as vice chair, and one as secretary. In case of a vacancy in any office thereafter, the commission may by a majority vote select a new officer.
(b) In the event the chair is unable to attend a meeting or to perform duties of chair at any particular time, the vice chair shall exercise the duties of the chair until the latter is able to resume them. The chair shall preside at all general meetings of the commission, but may designate a member of the commission ("Presiding Commissioner") to preside at formal proceedings of the commission. The chair shall perform such other duties as are indicated in these rules or as customarily devolve upon the chair of a committee.
(c) The secretary shall have the duty to record minutes of each meeting in a minute book, which shall be a permanent record of the commission. In the absence or inability of the secretary to perform the duties of secretary, the chair may appoint an acting secretary to perform the duties of secretary.
(d) In the event of disqualification of a member of the commission in the consideration of a complaint against a judge, or in the nomination of a judge to fill a judicial vacancy, a majority of the commission may appoint a qualified substitute from the same classification that the disqualified member represents under SDCL 16-1A-2.
Commission members hold positions of public trust. Public confidence in the commission and commission members is paramount. Any factors which might erode such public confidence, or be perceived to do so, shall be avoided. No commissioner shall engage in conduct in a manner which reflects discredit upon the commission. A commissioner shall carry out the duties of a commission member impartially, discreetly, and objectively.
A commissioner shall disclose to other commissioners all personal and business relationships with an applicant for judicial vacancy or a judge whose conduct is being investigated that may directly or indirectly influence the commissioner's decision. If a substantial conflict of interest is apparent, the commissioner shall disqualify himself from voting on further consideration of any affected applicants or judges and shall disqualify himself from participating in the investigation of a judge's conduct under the standards provided in Canon 3 E of the Judicial Code.
All pleadings, papers, evidence, records and files of the commission shall be confidential and privileged except as is otherwise provided by these rules.
SL 1997, ch 326 (Supreme Court Rule 97-23).
II. JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
1. Initial Procedure; Investigative Sources; Notice.
(a) Whenever the commission receives a notice of vacancy of a judicial office within the jurisdiction of the commission, the commission shall actively seek out and encourage applications. The commission shall require completion of a questionnaire which shall include questions relating to the background and qualifications of the applicant, a waiver of confidentiality of all materials necessary to adequately investigate each applicant, including, but not limited to, disciplinary records of the South Dakota State Bar Disciplinary Board, any other bar association disciplinary records, and records maintained by any law enforcement agency.
(b) The commission may also require financial disclosure from the applicant to include, but not limited to, South Dakota sales tax returns and financial statements.
(c) The commission shall advertise the judicial vacancy by posting notice at the Unified Judicial System's website at http://www.ujs.sd.gov/ or the State Bar of South Dakota's website at http://www.sdbar.org/. Electronic mail notification shall also be provided to members of the State Bar of South Dakota. Any member of the State Bar of South Dakota may request notice of a judicial vacancy through first class mail by contacting the Secretary of the commission. The advertisement shall afford reasonable notice to prospective applicants of the vacancy. The commission shall acknowledge receipt of each application submitted for the judicial vacancy.
2. Further Investigation; Personal Interviews.
The commission shall investigate the fitness and qualifications of each applicant, utilizing all sources reasonably available. In addition, the commission may invite any applicant to appear before a quorum of the commission sitting as a whole to respond to questions deemed pertinent to each applicant's fitness and qualifications to hold the judicial office. All applications, and other information received from or concerning applicants and all interviews and proceedings of the commission shall be confidential and privileged.
The application and other information received from or concerning an applicant may be released to all members of the Supreme Court with the consent of the applicant for consideration by the Supreme Court as part of the certification process for a magistrate judge position as provided by 1.2. Any person interviewed as part of the investigative process shall be informed the information obtained may also be provided to the Supreme Court as part of the magistrate certification process upon consent of the applicant.
3. Standards and Qualifications, Criteria.
No nominee shall be recommended to the Governor for appointment unless the commission finds that the nominee meets all constitutional and statutory requirements and is fit for appointment to the particular judicial office after full and careful consideration, which consideration shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following criteria:
(a) PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
(1) Personal integrity
(2) Standing in the community
(3) Moral conduct
(4) Ethics
(5) Commitment to equal justice under law
(b) COMPETENCY AND EXPERIENCE
(1) Intelligence
(2) Knowledge of the law
(3) Professional reputation
(4) Knowledge of and experience in the court involved
(5) Education
(6) Publications
(7) Record of public, community, and government service
(c) JUDICIAL CAPABILITIES
(1) Patience
(2) Decisiveness
(3) Impartiality
(4) Courtesy
(5) Civility
(6) Industry and promptness
(7) Administrative ability
(8) Possible reaction to judicial power
(9) Temperament
(10) Independence
(11) Ability
(12) Diligence
(13) Maturity
4. Final Selection of Nominees.
(a) By majority vote, the commission shall select two or more qualified persons to fill each judicial vacancy from the list of those persons interviewed who meet the requirements of the South Dakota Constitution, these Rules, and all other legal requirements for the judicial office. The votes shall be recorded but shall not be disclosed unless upon an order of the South Dakota Supreme Court and then only for the purposes of affirming that the appropriate votes necessary to qualify were received.
(b) By unanimous vote, the Commission may select highly qualified applicants to be designated "Well Qualified" in the communication to the Governor.
(c) The names of such nominees selected by the commission shall be submitted to the governor in alphabetical order along with a copy of all investigative information and documents relating to each nominee. The commission shall not rank nominees or otherwise disclose a preference of the commission beyond the "Well Qualified" designation.
5. Notification of Applicants.
Applicants for a judicial vacancy shall be notified in writing by the commission as to whether their name was submitted to the governor. The applicants shall not, however, be notified as to the names of other individuals submitted to the governor nor told which nominees have been designated "Well Qualified".
III. JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE
1. Proceedings Confidential--Violation as Contempt.
All proceedings involving allegations of misconduct by or the disability of a judge shall be kept confidential until the commission's recommendation to the Supreme Court is filed or the accused requests that the matter be public, or the investigation is predicated upon a conviction of the judge for a crime as defined in SDCL 16-1A-12. All participants in the proceeding shall conduct themselves so as to maintain the confidentiality of the proceeding. Any violation by any person of the requirement of confidentiality shall constitute contempt and shall be punishable as such by the Supreme Court. This section shall not be construed to deny access to relevant information by authorized agencies investigating the qualifications of judicial candidates, other jurisdictions investigating qualifications for admission to practice, or law enforcement agencies investigating qualifications for government employment.
2. Initial Complaint Procedure.
(a) Each written complaint received by any member of the commission shall be forwarded to the secretary of the commission for dissemination to the commission unless the complaint is against the secretary. In that event, the complaint shall be filed with the chair. The commission shall, however, have the authority to commence an investigation as to any matter under its jurisdiction upon a motion approved by a majority of the commission.
(b) Upon receipt of a written complaint the secretary shall acknowledge receipt of the complaint to the complainant. A complaint must allege facts which would demonstrate:
(1) a violation of the Judicial Code,
(2) willful misconduct in office,
(3) habitual intemperance,
(4) disability that seriously interferes with the performance of the judge's duties, or
(5) violation of any constitutional provisions or statutes or conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice and brings a judicial office into disrepute.
(c) The commission may, upon review of the complaint, dismiss the complaint if such complaint is frivolous or does not allege facts that would provide jurisdiction to the commission to consider the complaint.
(d) If such complaint is not dismissed, the secretary shall give notice to the judge complained against by forwarding the complaint to the judge and by requesting the judge to respond in writing to the secretary within ten days with an original and six copies of the response for distribution unless such time is extended by the commission.
(e) The secretary shall notify the complainant that the complaint has been forwarded to the judge complained against with a request for a response within ten days and that any response received will be forwarded to the complainant and the complainant will be given an opportunity to reply to the judge's response.
(f) The secretary shall distribute the response of the judge complained against and complainant's reply, if any, to all members of the commission.
3. Additional Investigation of Complaint.
The commission may continue the investigation of the complaint until the matter is ready for commission determination.
An investigation by the commission or by the accused or commission counsel may entail inquiries by mail, consultation with the judge, taking sworn statements and investigation by the commission counsel. In addition, the commission shall be entitled to compel by subpoena the production of books, accounts, and documents relevant to the proceeding. The circuit court of the county in which the witness resides shall have the power to enforce such process.
The commission shall by mail, or at a meeting which may be in person, by telephone, or video conference, or at a meeting called especially for that purpose, act upon the information before it in one of the following manners, to-wit:
(1) Dismiss the complaint.
(2) Require investigation by commission counsel.
(3) Continue to correspond with the judge complained against, or take such further action as the commission deems appropriate.
(4) In the event that the commission dismisses the complaint, the commission may, by a separate and unanimous vote, expunge the complaint from the judge's record.
(5) Proceed to formal proceedings.
(6) Issue a private reprimand.
(7) Enter into a Deferred Discipline Agreement.
5. Notice to Complainant.
The commission shall notify the complainant and the judge as to the disposition of the matter, except in the case of a private reprimand. When a private reprimand is issued, the complainant shall be notified that the commission has determined that no formal disciplinary action will be taken.
6. Notice of Formal Proceedings.
(a) After the preliminary investigation has been completed, if the commission concludes by majority vote that formal proceedings should be instituted, the commission shall appoint commission counsel who shall without delay issue a written notice and complaint to the judge advising the judge of the institution of formal proceedings to inquire into the charges against the judge. Such proceedings shall be entitled:
"BEFORE THE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Inquiry Concerning Judge _______"
(b) The notice and complaint shall specify in ordinary and concise language the charges against the judge and the alleged facts upon which such charges are based, and it shall advise the judge of the judge's right to file a written answer to the charges against the judge within thirty days after service of notice and complaint upon the judge.
(c) The notice and complaint shall be served by the personal service of a copy thereof upon the judge, but if it appears to the chair of the commission that, after reasonable effort, personal service could not be had, service may be made upon the judge by mailing, by prepaid registered or certified mail, copies of the notice and complaint addressed to the judge at the judge's last known residence.
(d) At any stage of formal proceedings, the commission shall be entitled to compel by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses, including the judge himself, and the production of papers, books, accounts, documents and testimony relevant to the proceedings. The circuit court of the county in which the judge resides shall have the power to enforce process.
(e) The judge and commission counsel shall be entitled to discovery in accordance with the rules of civil procedure after commencement of formal proceedings, subject to the discretionary control of the commission.
7. Setting for Hearing Before Commission.
Upon the filing of an answer to the notice and complaint or upon expiration of the time for its filing, the commission shall order a hearing to be held before it concerning the conduct of the judge. The commission shall set a time and place for hearing and shall give notice of such hearing by registered or certified mail to the judge at least twenty days prior to the date set.
8. Hearing.
(a) At the time and place set for hearing, the commission shall proceed with the hearing whether or not the judge has filed an answer or appears at the hearing. Commission counsel shall present the case in support of the charges in the notice of formal proceedings.
(b) A verbatim record shall be kept of the proceedings of the hearing.
(c) At the hearing before the commission, not less than five members of the commission shall be present when the evidence is produced.
9. Evidence.
The rules of evidence shall apply at the hearing before the commission, and oral evidence shall be taken only on oath or affirmation.
10. Procedural Rights of Judge.
(a) In the formal proceedings, a judge shall have the right to be represented by counsel, the reasonable opportunity to defend against the charges by the introduction of evidence, and the right to examine and cross-examine witnesses. The judge shall also have the right to the issuance of subpoenas for attendance of witnesses to testify or produce books, papers, and other evidentiary matter.
(b) Whenever these rules provide for giving notice to or making service of documents upon the judge, such notice or service may be effected by mailing the notice or documents to the judge's counsel of record.
(c) If the judge has been adjudged insane or incompetent, or if it appears to the commission at any time during the proceedings that the judge is not competent to act, the commission shall appoint a guardian ad litem unless the judge has a guardian. In the appointment of such guardian ad litem, consideration may be given to the wishes of the members of the judge's immediate family. The guardian or guardian ad litem may claim and exercise any right and privilege and make any defense for the judge with the same force and effect as if claimed, exercised, or made by the judge, if competent; and, whenever these rules provide for serving or giving notice or sending any matter to a judge, such notice or matter shall be served, given, or sent to the guardian or guardian ad litem.
11. Interim Suspension.
Upon the issuance of a written notice and complaint to a judge, or at any time thereafter, the commission may, in its discretion, issue its order directed to the judge ordering the judge to appear before the commission and show cause why the commission should not recommend to the Supreme Court that the judge be suspended from office, with compensation, while the matter is pending. The order to show cause shall be returnable before the commission at a designated place and at a time certain, at which place and time the commission shall consider the question of suspension. Thereafter, the commission, with not less than five members concurring, may recommend to the Supreme Court that the judge be suspended from performing the duties of that judge's office pending final determination of the inquiry. If the commission recommends suspension, such recommendation shall be submitted to the Supreme Court along with a record of the proceedings of the commission in relation to that recommendation.
12. Amendments to Notice or Answer.
The commission, at any time prior to its determination, may for good cause allow or require amendments to the notice of formal proceedings and may allow amendments to the answer. The notice may be amended to conform to proof or to set forth additional facts, whether occurring before or after the commencement of the hearing. In case such an amendment is made, the judge shall be given reasonable time both to answer the amendment and to prepare and present a defense against the matters charged thereby.
13. Conduct of Hearing.
Should the commission find the complaint to have merit after the investigation is completed, the commission shall afford the judge complained against a reasonable opportunity to state the judge's position with respect to the allegations against the judge. This hearing shall take the form of an informal conference between the commission and the judge complained against or in the alternative, if required by said commission, a formal hearing noticed and conducted in the following manner, to-wit:
(1) Notice to the judge complained against shall be given by a member of the commission or by commission counsel in writing, by certified mail return receipt requested, stating the time, place and date of said hearing when and where said complaint will be considered, requiring the attendance of said judge and advising the judge that he/she may attend with Counsel. Said notice shall be given at least ten days prior to said hearing and have enclosed therewith a copy of these Rules.
(2) A verbatim transcript shall be kept of all formal hearings.
(a) The Presiding Commissioner shall conduct the hearing.
(b) After advising the accused judge of the right to be heard, to offer witnesses, to be represented by counsel and to have a record kept, the hearing shall be conducted as follows:
FIRST--Commission counsel shall be allowed to make an opening statement.
SECOND--The accused judge, after being sworn, or judge's counsel, shall be permitted to make an opening statement.
THIRD--Witnesses, including the accused judge, called by commission counsel shall testify after being sworn. Witnesses will be questioned first by commission counsel, then by the accused judge or his/her counsel and thereafter by the commissioners.
FOURTH--Witnesses called by the accused judge after being sworn will then be examined. They will be examined first by the accused judge or his counsel, then commission counsel, and the commissioners.
FIFTH--Rebuttal and surrebuttal witnesses' testimony may then be taken under oath and subject to examination and cross-examination by commission counsel, the judge or his/her counsel and then the commissioners.
SIXTH--Closing statements by commission counsel, accused judge or judge's counsel and rebuttal by commission counsel with time limits set by Presiding Commissioner.
SEVENTH--Commission discussion off the record and out of hearing of the accused judge.
14. Report of Commission.
(a) At the conclusion of the hearing, the commission shall promptly prepare a report which shall contain its findings of fact and its recommendations on the issues presented by the notice and complaint of formal proceedings and the answer thereto, if any.
(b) Upon its completion, the commission shall promptly serve a copy of its report upon the judge.
15. Objections to Report.
Within ten days after service of a copy of the commission's report upon the judge, the judge may file with the commission a statement of objections to the report, setting forth all objections thereto and all reasons in opposition to the findings as sufficient grounds for censure, removal, or retirement.
16. Adoption of Report.
Promptly after the judge's objections have been received or upon expiration of the time for filing objections, the commission shall proceed to adopt its report and in doing so may make modifications or amendments to the report as may be required in the judgment of the commission by reason of the filed objections.
17. Extension of Time.
The chair of the commission upon good cause shown may extend the time for filing an answer, commencing a hearing before the commission, or filing a statement of objections to the report of the commission.
18. Hearing Additional Evidence.
The commission may order a hearing for the taking of additional evidence at any time while the matter is pending before it. The order shall set the time and place of hearing and shall indicate the matters on which the evidence is to be taken. A copy of such order shall be sent by registered or certified mail to the judge at least ten days prior to the date of hearing.
19. Commission Recommendations.
If the commission finds good cause from any investigation, it may elect to issue a private reprimand, or make a recommendation to the Supreme Court of public censure, suspension, removal, or retirement of the judge. The affirmative vote of four members of the commission who have considered the record, and at least three of whom were present when the evidence was produced, is required for a recommendation of private reprimand, suspension, censure, removal, or retirement of a judge.
20. Deferred Discipline Agreement.
If it is determined after an investigation by the commission that the complaint is meritorious, but that formal disciplinary proceedings are not warranted, the commission and the judge may agree in writing to hold the proceedings in abeyance for a definite period, and may enter into a Deferred Discipline Agreement, provided the judge throughout the period complies with specified reasonable conditions. If such an agreement is entered into, complainant shall be notified that the matter is being held in temporary abeyance, but that it remains under active consideration by the commission. Upon satisfactory compliance, the commission may thereafter dismiss the proceedings and notify the complainant and such other persons as the commission deems appropriate.
21. Private Reprimand.
(a) If it is determined after an investigation that the complaint is meritorious and that a private reprimand is warranted, a written report of the findings and proposed action shall be prepared and served by personal delivery or by registered or certified mail upon the accused judge.
(b) The accused judge shall have twenty days in which to accede or object to the findings and proposed action of a proposed private reprimand; silence shall be deemed to be an agreement with the findings and proposed action. After twenty days or upon agreement the commission shall report its findings to the Supreme Court. Upon filing, the findings constitute a private reprimand. The private reprimand shall not be available for public inspection but is available for consideration by the Supreme Court and commission in any future disciplinary actions against the judge.
(c) A judge may accede to a private reprimand either affirmatively or by silence within twenty days of service of the commission's findings and proposal of private reprimand, or the judge may within the same twenty-day period demand as of right that formal proceedings be initiated.
22. Final Judgment.
A final judgment of conviction of a judge for any crime shall be conclusive evidence of the judge's commission of that crime in any disciplinary proceedings instituted against the judge based upon the conviction.
23. Judge's Duty to Respond to Commission Board.
It shall be the duty of every judge to promptly and appropriately respond to any complaint or letter by the commission. In the event the judge shall fail to do so, such judge may be subject to sanction by the commission, or, after hearing upon order to show cause, disciplined by the Supreme Court.
24. Costs and Expenses of Judicial Disciplinary Proceedings.
Costs and expenses incurred by the commission in the investigation or prosecution of any disciplinary proceeding under this chapter shall be paid by the Unified Judicial System, provided, however, that the expenses of a disciplinary proceeding may, in the discretion of the Supreme Court, be assessed against the judge who is the subject of such proceeding.
25. Consent by Judge by Retirement--Contents of Affidavit.
A judge who is the subject of an investigation into, or a pending proceeding involving, allegations of misconduct may consent to retirement or resignation, but only by delivering to the commission an affidavit in the following form:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
| In Re: | ) | |
| ______________________ | ) | RETIREMENT (RESIGNATION) |
| (Name) | ) | AFFIDAVIT |
| State of _______________ | ) ss | |
| County of _____________ | ) |
I, _______, being duly sworn on oath, depose and say that my business address is _______ (Building No. and Name, if any, or Box No.), _______ (Street address, if any), _______ (City), _______ (State), _______ (Zip Code); that my residence address is _______ (No. Street), _______ (City), _______ (State), _______ (Zip Code). I retire (resign) as a (Supreme Court Justice, a Circuit Court Judge, a Magistrate Judge) as of the _______ day of _______, 20___.
Dated this ____ day of _______, 20____.
__________
(Signature of Judge)
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ____ day of _______, 20___.
__________
(Signature of Officer Administering Oath)
My Commission Expires: _______________
26. Retirement or Resignation by Consent--Public Disclosure of Order.
Upon receipt of a judge's retirement or resignation affidavit, the commission shall file it with the Supreme Court. The Court may, in its discretion, enter an order removing the judge based thereon. The affidavit and the order removing the judge shall be a matter of public record.
27. Certification of Commission Recommendation to Supreme Court.
Upon recommending the censure, removal, or retirement of a judge, the commission shall promptly file a copy of the recommendation, certified by the chair of the commission, together with the transcript and the findings and conclusions, with the clerk of the Supreme Court and shall immediately make service thereof by personal delivery or by registered or certified mail upon the judge.
28. Review of Commission Proceedings.
(a) Within thirty days of service of the commission's findings, conclusions and recommendation, the judge may file an original and five copies of a formal petition with the Supreme Court for modification or rejection of the commission's recommendation. The petition must be based upon the record, specify the grounds relied upon, and be accompanied by a brief in support thereof. Three copies of the petition and brief must be served upon the commission, and proof of such service must be filed with the Supreme Court at the time of the filing of the petition.
(b) Within twenty days of service of the petition and supporting brief, the commission may serve and file the original and five copies of an answering brief.
(c) Within fifteen days of service of the commission's brief, the judge may serve and file the original and five copies of a reply brief.
(d) Failure to file a petition within the time provided may be deemed a consent to a determination on the merits based upon the record filed by the commission.
29. Disposition by Supreme Court.
Based upon the report and recommendations of the commission, the Supreme Court may establish such procedure as it deems appropriate, including referral of said matter for the taking of testimony and making of findings and recommendations. Such reference may be to any circuit court judge in the state or to a referee or referees deemed to be qualified to serve in that capacity. Upon consideration of the commission's findings, conclusions and recommendation, the judge's petition to modify or reject such recommendation, if any, and the report of the referee, if any, the Court shall render such judgment as the matter requires.
SL 1997, ch 326 (Supreme Court Rule 97-23).
IV. JUDICIAL ELECTIONS
In every year in which a circuit court judicial election is held in this State and at such other times as the Commission may deem appropriate, a Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention ("Special Committee") shall be created whose responsibility shall be to issue advisory opinions and to deal expeditiously with allegations of ethical misconduct in campaigns for judicial office. The membership of such committee shall consist of nine (9) members appointed by the Supreme Court. The Special Committee shall include two (2) retired justices or retired judges, three (3) lawyers, with no more than two (2) from one (1) political party, and four (4) other citizens who are neither lawyers nor judges with no more than two (2) from one political party. One of the judge or lawyer members shall be designated by the Supreme Court to chair the work of the Special Committee. Unless otherwise provided, any action taken by the Special Committee shall require a majority vote of the participating members. The objective of the Special Committee shall be to alleviate unethical and unfair campaign practices in judicial elections, and to that end, the Special Committee shall have the following authority:
(a) Within ten (10) days after filing their nominating petitions all candidates, including incumbent judges, shall forward written notice of such candidacy, together with an appropriate mailing address, to the Commission. Upon receipt of such notice, the Special Committee shall cause to be distributed to all such candidates by certified mail-return receipt requested copies of the following: the Code of Judicial Conduct; this Rule; summaries of any previous opinions issued by the Special Committee, or the Supreme Court of South Dakota, which relate in any way to campaign conduct and practices; and a form acknowledgment which each candidate shall promptly return to the Special Committee and therein certify that he/she has read and understands the materials forwarded and agrees to comply with such standards during the course of the campaign. A failure to comply with this section shall authorize the Special Committee to immediately publicize such failure to all candidates in such race, the Commission, the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of South Dakota ("the Board") and to all appropriate media outlets. In the event of a question relating to conduct during a judicial campaign, judicial candidates are encouraged to seek an opinion from the Special Committee before such conduct occurs.
(b) Opinions as to the propriety of any act or conduct and the construction or application of Canon 5 may be provided by the Special Committee upon request from any judicial candidate. If the Special Committee finds the question of limited significance, it may provide an informal opinion to the questioner. If, however, it finds the question of sufficient general interest and importance, it may render a formal opinion, in which event it shall cause the opinion to be circulated to all candidates and published in complete or synopsis form as deemed appropriate by the Special Committee. If two-thirds of the participating members of the Special Committee determine that there is clear and convincing evidence of a violation it may issue a public statement relative to campaign conduct that is not the subject of a written complaint. The Special Committee may decline to issue an opinion when a majority of the participating Special Committee members determine that it would be inadvisable to respond to the request and to have so confirmed in writing their reasoning to the person who requested the opinion. All formal opinions of the Special Committee shall be filed with the Supreme Court and shall be a matter of public record. Both formal and informal opinions shall be advisory only; however, the Commission, the Board and the Supreme Court shall consider reliance by a judicial candidate upon the Special Committee opinion.
(c) Upon receipt of a complaint or otherwise receiving information facially indicating a violation by a judicial candidate of any provision of Canon 5 of the South Dakota Judicial Code of Conduct during the course of a campaign for judicial office, the secretary or chair of the Commission shall immediately forward a copy of the same by facsimile, if available, and U.S. mail to the Special Committee members and the Special Committee shall:
(1) seek, from the complainant and/or the subject of the complaint, such further information on the allegations of the complaint as it deems necessary;
(2) provide the candidate with notice and an opportunity to respond in a manner specified by the Special Committee;
(3) conduct such additional investigation as the Special Committee may deem necessary;
(4) in the instance the allegations of the complaint do not warrant intervention, the Special Committee shall dismiss the complaint and so notify the complaining party and candidates in such race;
(d) Complaints shall be confidential until such time as the Special Committee, by a vote of at least two-thirds of its participating members, has determined clear and convincing evidence exists that a violation has occurred. Complaint forms and campaign conduct acknowledgement forms used by the Special Committee shall include language which notifies complainants and candidates of this restriction. The Special Committee may issue a public statement concerning the campaign conduct.
(e) All proceedings under this Rule shall be informal and non-adversarial, and the Special Committee shall act on all complaints within five (5) days of receipt, either in person; by facsimile, by U.S. mail, by electronic mail; or by telephone.
(f) Except as hereinabove specifically authorized, the proceedings of the Special Committee shall remain confidential as provided in Commission Rule III 1., and in no event shall the Special Committee have the authority to institute disciplinary action against any candidate for judicial office, which power is specifically reserved to the full Commission or the Board under applicable rules.
(g) The Committee shall after conclusion of the election distribute to the Commission and the Board copies of all complaints and all proceedings relating thereto.
(h) The Special Committee may promulgate rules pertaining to its operation and procedures as it deems appropriate.
2. Applicability of Code of Judicial Conduct and Guidelines.
These guidelines shall apply to all candidates for judicial office, be they incumbent judges or not and to the campaign/solicitation committees of all candidates.
Every person who files a petition to have their name placed on the ballot as a candidate for judicial office and any judicial candidate's election committee chairperson, shall by May 15th of the year in which the petition was filed complete a two-hour course on campaign practices, finance, and ethics sponsored and approved by the Judicial Qualifications Commission. Within thirty days of completing the course, the candidate shall certify to the Commission that he or she has completed the course and understands fully the requirements of South Dakota law and the Code of Judicial Conduct concerning campaign practices for a judicial office. A circuit court candidate who has no opposition is exempt from the application of this rule.
Source: SL 1998, ch 307 (Supreme Court Rule 98-2); SL 2000, ch 264 (Supreme Court Rule 00-10); SL 2006, ch 274 (Supreme Court Rule 05-13), eff. Jan. 1, 2006.
V. IMMUNITY
1. Immunity.
The members of the Special Committee and Commission, their counsel, and all staff persons assisting them shall have absolute immunity from civil liability for all acts undertaken in the course of their official duties pursuant to these rules. Complaints submitted to the Commission or the Special Committee, shall be absolutely privileged, except as specifically authorized by the Commission's rules. No civil action shall be instituted predicated on a violation of the Commission rules.
SL 1998, ch 308 (Supreme Court Rule 98-3).
VI. JUDICIAL ETHICS COMMITTEE
1. Judicial Ethics Committee and Opinions.
(a) There shall be an ethics committee of the South Dakota judiciary consisting of two circuit court judges and one magistrate judge. The judicial members shall be selected at the annual judges association meeting. Each member shall serve for a term of three years from the date of the election. A chairperson shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the ethics committee.
(b) Opinions as to the propriety of any act or conduct and the construction or application of any canon shall be provided by the committee upon request from any justice, judge or magistrate, except as to matters relating to judicial campaigns which shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of the Special Committee. If the committee finds the question of limited significance, it may provide an informal opinion to the questioner. If, however, it finds the questions of sufficient general interest and importance, it may render a formal opinion, in which event it shall cause the opinion to be published in complete or synopsis form with the names of the persons involved excised. Likewise, the committee may issue formal opinions on its own motion under such circumstances as it finds appropriate. All opinions shall be adopted by a majority vote of the members of the committee. If a majority vote cannot be obtained, no opinion shall be issued.
(c) Both formal and informal opinions shall be advisory only; however, the Commission and the Supreme Court shall consider reliance by a justice, judge or magistrate upon the ethics committee opinion.
Source: SL 1998, ch 309 (Supreme Court Rule 98-4); SL 2006, ch 274 (Supreme Court Rule 05-13), eff. Jan. 1, 2006; SL 2009, ch 276 (Supreme Court Rule 08-06), eff. Nov. 1, 2008.