A Review of the Judicial Conduct Commission - Utah State Legislature

complaints filed against judges prior to 1995. Since 1995, the number ofcomplaints has been compiled but has fluctuated.Budget Remained Low for a Number of Years. Utah’s JCC had aminimal budget from its creation in 1971 until 1995. The minimalfunding meant limited investigations and no trial budget. However, in1996, the appropriation was increased from a mere $32,000 to $109,000and had another large increase in fiscal year 1997. Figure 2 shows thefunding history of the JCC.Figure 2. JCC’s Appropriation History. Budget increases capableof changing organizational behavior have only occurred in the lasteight years.Fiscal Year Appropriation Change1971 to 1994 $4,000 to $32,0001995 32,000 0%1996 109,000 2411997 207,000 901998 187,600 -91999 218,900 172000 225,600 32001 224,800 -0.32002 238,500 62003 228,200 -4Figure 2 shows that the JCC’s budget has increased substantially. Itappears the budget was originally used for operating expenses for the thenfive-person commission. In fiscal year 1996, the Legislature substantiallyincreased the appropriated amount that allowed the office to hire its firstexecutive director in September, 1995. The following year, anothersubstantial increase in the budget allowed the office to hire aninvestigator, pay for office space, and fund other office expenses.Office of the Utah Legislative Auditor General – 9 –