Opinion ID: 1878179
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Commission's failure to file timely report.

Text: The commission's report was filed with its secretary on November 22, 1985. The secretary filed the report with the clerk of this court on February 11, 1986, and Bromwell received a copy at that time. See Iowa Sup.Ct.R. 118.9, .10. No reason for this eighty-one day delay appears in the record. Bromwell urges dismissal of this action because the commission failed to comply with rule 118.9, which provides: The ... report of the commission shall be made or filed with this court within thirty days of the date set for the filing of the last responsive brief and argument. He urges us to reconsider our decision in Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct v. Behnke, 276 N.W.2d 838, 842 (Iowa 1979), which held that this language directory and not mandatory. In addition, he claims prejudice because had the commission complied with the rule, his counsel would not have had a schedule conflict and could have requested oral argument. See Iowa R.App.P. 21. We decline to reconsider our decision in Behnke. On the other hand, we do not condone administrative delay, which may erode public confidence in our ability to police claims of misconduct. Attorneys deserve not only timely disposition of complaints of misconduct, but timely notice. The ability to request oral argument does not invalidate the findings by the commission's report. In any event, Bromwell could have sought substitute counsel. More important, as he concedes, oral argument is not a matter of right. See Iowa R.App.P. 21(c), (d).