Opinion ID: 877940
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Is the Judicial Standards Commission subject to the power of the Supreme Court to issue writs of prohibition, mandamus, certiorari, or alternative writs?

Text: The first question to be decided by us is whether the Judicial Standards Commission is so inherently an independent constitutional body that it is not subject to writs or the authority of this Court in the course of its proceedings. If it is not so subject, there is no point in further discussion in this case because if this Court has no such power, the matter ends there. The District Court wrestled with this problem. It pointed out that while the Commission is making its investigation, and to the point where it makes recommendations to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court has been given no constitutional function whatever. Art. VII, § 11(1), (2). After making its recommendation, the Judicial Standards Commission has no constitutional function. Art. VII, § 11(3)(a), (3)(b). On this basis, the District Court concluded that the functions of the Commission and of the Supreme Court were clear cut and discrete. The District Court further noted that since any recommendation of the Judicial Standards Commission must eventually be passed upon by this Court, that in itself is an adequate remedy, and insulates the proceedings of the Judicial Standards Commission from any intervening interruption by either a District Court or the Supreme Court. In An Anonymous Town Justice v. State Commission (1978), 96 Misc.2d 198, 409 N.Y.S.2d 198, it was found that the proceedings of the New York Commission were administrative in that it did not make final decisions and were therefore beyond trial court review. Under Montana statutes the supreme court or a district court may issue a writ of review, when an ... inferior tribunal ... exercising judicial functions has exceeded the jurisdiction of such tribunal ... and there is no appeal or, in the judgment of the court, any plain, speedy, and adequate remedy. Section 27-25-102, MCA. There is no question that the Judicial Standards Commission is exercising judicial functions (see our recent opinion in State Bar of Montana v. Krivec (1981), Mont., 632 P.2d 707, 38 St.Rep. 1322, for a discussion of the exercise of judicial functions.) We have held, however, that a writ of review is generally not properly granted where the matters over which review is sought are pending or undetermined. State v. District Court (1933), 93 Mont. 439, 444, 19 P.2d 220, 222. A writ of mandamus may be issued by the Supreme Court or District Court to a tribunal to compel the performance of an act which the law specifically enjoins as a duty resulting from an office. Section 27-26-102, MCA. The purpose of Daniel J. Shea in filing his petition with the District Court was to stop the action of the Judicial Standards Commission; therefore, mandamus does not apply. A writ of prohibition may issue from the Supreme Court or the District Court to any tribunal, whether exercising judicial or ministerial functions, when the proceedings are without or in excess of the jurisdiction of the tribunal. Section 27-27-101, MCA. The writ may issue in all cases where there is not a plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. Section 27-27-102, idem. However, if appeal is available, but is neither speedy nor adequate, a writ of prohibition may issue. State v. District Court of the Eleventh Judicial Dist. (1957), 131 Mont. 397, 402, 310 P.2d 779, 780, 64 A.L.R.2d 1324, 1327. In the case at bar, no appeal is granted, except for the review by the Supreme Court upon the final recommendation of the Judicial Standards Commission. It appears to us, therefore, Daniel J. Shea's remedy by appeal is inadequate, he has no other plain, speedy or adequate remedy, and we have the power to issue a writ of prohibition to enjoin the Commission if, indeed, it is acting in excess of its jurisdiction.