Jurisdiction; Disposition

(a) The Commission or its panels shall receive, investigate, hear, and adjudicate allegations of judicial misconduct, criminal misconduct, civil mis- conduct, or disability; impose temporary discipline or interim suspension as provided for in these rules; approve discipline; and make recommendations to the Wyoming Supreme Court for appropriate discipline, including the assess- ment of reasonable costs and fees, censure, removal or retirement of a judge. (1) The Commission may recommend retirement of a judge for disability. (2) The Commission may recommend censure or removal of a judge upon a finding that a judge has engaged in judicial misconduct, criminal miscon- duct or civil misconduct. (3) The Commission may impose discipline in the form of private censure and such an imposition of discipline need not be recommended to or approved by the Wyoming Supreme Court. (b) Temporary discipline or interim suspension. If there is probable cause to believe the judge poses an imminent threat of substantial harm to the public or any other person or any entity, a panel may order such temporary discipline or interim suspension as may be appropriate under the circumstances. Any such order shall set forth the full factual basis for the temporary discipline or interim suspension and shall be effective immediately upon issuance. The order shall be served upon the judge or upon the attorney for the judge as provided for by these rules. The judge shall have 20 days from the date of service of the order to request modification or dismissal of the order. The request and factual basis for modification or dismissal of the order shall be verified, in writing, and served upon the panel issuing the order via the executive director. (c) Disposition. Upon a finding of judicial misconduct, criminal misconduct, civil misconduct or disability of a judge, the disciplinary panel shall convene and shall have jurisdiction to make and transmit appropriate findings and recommendations for censure, removal or retirement, and assessment of reasonable costs and fees, to the Wyoming Supreme Court or impose discipline in the form of private censure, including, but not limited to, assessment of reasonable costs and fees where appropriate. (d) A judge, clerk, court employee, member of the bar, or other officer of the court shall comply with a request made by the Commission, the Commission chair, the presiding officer of an investigatory panel, the presiding officer of an adjudicatory panel, or disciplinary counsel in aid of any investigation or any proceeding pertaining to any judge. History: Amended January 8, 2014, effective April 1, 2014; amended January 24, 2017, effective May 1, 2017; amended January 24, 2020, effective April 1, 2020.