Press Release  Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct Publishes 2017 Annual Report

Boston, MA — On May 17, 2018, the Commission on Judicial Conduct’s Executive Director, Howard V. Neff, III, published the Commission’s 2017 Annual Report, covering its activities from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. 

The Commission reports that 382 complaints were filed with the Commission in 2017, and out of those complaints, 58 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 2017, 149 were submitted through the Commission’s online complaint form, which became available on July 22, 2015.

The Commission considered 72 complaints filed in 2017 and previous years and disposed of 55 of them in 2017.  Of the 72 complaints considered by the Commission in 2017, 53 were dismissed upon the Commission’s finding of no misconduct.  Four complaints that were subject to an Informal Adjustment or Agreed Disposition were actively monitored by the Commission in 2017 and two of those complaints were successfully closed. 

The Annual Report includes statistics for the year 2017; overall statistics dating back to the year 2013, 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 2017 Annual Report are available on the Commission’s website: www.mass.gov/cjc.

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