The commission may dismiss or resolve a complaint through informal procedures at any time during preliminary proceedings. The complaint must be dismissed if the investigation fails to find sufficient evidence to support the allegations in the complaint. It can also be resolved informally if the investigation reveals a single, isolated mistake that is not likely to be repeated. In many in stances, the judge will acknowledge the mistake and attempt to resolve the problem or prevent its reoccurrence. In other cases, a judge may have a temporary disability that can be corrected by medical treatment or counseling.
Informal resolution is the best way to handle many types of minor problems.
In more serious cases, the commission may instruct a judge to make specific changes in behavior or take educational courses to become more familiar with judicial or legal procedures. If a judge is not guilty of any specific violation but the conduct itself gives the appearance of impropriety, the commission can issue a warning or admonishment advising the judge that further complaints may lead to more serious consequences. The commission may also issue a private reprimand or censure when a judge is guilty of minor misconduct that does not require suspension from the bench or removal from office. Finally, the commission may informally recommend that the judge change specific behaviors, obtain counseling, retire, or resign. If the judge agrees to follow these recommendations, then no further action will be taken by the commission.