Opinion ID: 1298515
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The nature of judicial disciplinary proceedings.

Text: Judicial disciplinary proceedings, like attorney disciplinary proceedings, are neither criminal nor civil, but are sui generis. Haddad, 128 Ariz. at 492, 627 P.2d at 223; cf. Rule 54(a), Ariz.R.Sup.Ct., 17A A.R.S. (1988). Again, the goal of judicial discipline is not to punish the judge but to protect the public and the judiciary's integrity. Haddad, 128 Ariz. at 492, 627 P.2d at 223. Because judicial disciplinary proceedings are neither criminal in nature nor penal in objective, the ex post facto clauses of the federal and state constitutions do not prohibit application of judicial disciplinary rules to conduct predating the rules' effective date. See Gary v. State Bar of California, 44 Cal.3d 820, 827, 749 P.2d 1336, 1340, 244 Cal. Rptr. 482, 485 (1988) (use of disciplinary standards promulgated after attorney's conduct to enhance sanction is not prohibited by ex post facto principles). It seems settled, therefore, that new rules adopted for judicial or attorney disciplinary proceedings may be utilized in proceedings concerning misconduct occurring prior to the new rules' promulgation. See, e.g., McCoomb v. Commission on Judicial Performance, 19 Cal.3d (Spec.Trib.Supp.) 1, 7, 564 P.2d 1, 4, 138 Cal. Rptr. 459, 462 (1977) (new rule establishing tribunal of appellate court justices to review disciplinary commission's recommendations was procedural only, did not adversely affect respondent justice's rights, and thus was not an ex post facto law; retroactive application was proper); In re Barclay, 82 Utah 288, 292, 24 P.2d 302, 304 (1933) (state bar may investigate and charge attorney with misconduct even though misconduct occurred prior to state bar's organized existence). [13] In re Brown, 157 W. Va. 1, 197 S.E.2d 814 (1973), supports the view that a new rule relating to the availability of suspension may apply retroactively. Brown, an attorney, bribed a juror. The disciplinary rules in effect at the time of his conduct and resulting federal indictment did not allow for the interim suspension of an attorney's license pending an appeal of a conviction. Before Brown's actual conviction and the filing of a bar complaint, however, the rules were amended to allow for such interim suspension. The disciplinary agency sought to suspend Brown's license during his criminal appeal. Brown objected to the proposed suspension, claiming that because his crime and indictment occurred prior to the rule change, the interim suspension provision did not apply to his case. The state supreme court disagreed. It held the rules existing at the time of the disciplinary proceeding applied. Summarily dismissing any ex post facto concerns, it held that because attorney disciplinary cases are sui generis, the new suspension rule might be applied retroactively to offenses occurring prior to the rule changes. Id. at 7, 197 S.E.2d at 818. [14]