Press Release  Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct Publishes 2016 Annual Report

Boston, MA — On April 28, 2017, the Commission on Judicial Conduct’s Executive Director, Howard V. Neff, III, published the Commission’s Annual Report, covering its activities from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.  

The Commission reports that 252 complaints were filed with the Commission in 2016, and out of those complaints, 62 were docketed for investigation or preliminary inquiry, as each met the standard of alleging facts that, if true, would constitute judicial misconduct and/or disability.  Of the complaints received in 2016, 141 were submitted through the Commission’s online complaint form, which became available on July 22, 2015.

The Commission considered 75 complaints filed in 2016 and previous years and disposed of 61 of them in 2016.  Of the 75 complaints considered by the Commission in 2016, 59 were dismissed upon the Commission’s finding of no misconduct.  In four of those instances, the Commission expressed concern to the judge regarding future conduct.  Three complaints that were subject to an Informal Adjustment or Agreed Disposition were actively monitored by the Commission in 2016 and two of those complaints were successfully closed.  

The Annual Report includes statistics for the year 2016; overall statistics dating back to the year 2012, a copy of the Commission’s enabling statute, a copy of its Rules, and a copy of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which became effective on January 1, 2016.

The Commission’s statute and rules, and a copy of the 2016 Annual Report are available on the Commission’s website: www.mass.gov/cjc.

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