Judicial Branch Certification Commission
Complaint Initiation and Investigation
The JBCC, through the Director, may conduct complaint-based investigations to enforce the laws administered by the JBCC. Upon receipt of a signed complaint form, the Compliance Section will determine:
- if JBCC has legal jurisdiction, and
- if the complaint clearly alleges misconduct.
If we determine that the JBCC does not have jurisdiction in the matter or that the complaint does not clearly allege misconduct, the complaint may be administratively dismissed.
The Director may administratively dismiss complaints that:
- clearly do not allege misconduct,
- are not within the Commission’s jurisdiction, or
- allege misconduct which took place more than five (5) years before the complaint was filed.
- The Director must inform the Commission of all dismissals made under this policy at the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting.
- A person who files a complaint that is dismissed by the Director may request in writing that the Commission reconsider the complaint no later than 30 days after the date of notice of the dismissal.
When the complaint is opened for investigation:
- an opening letter is issued to the complainant informing him an investigation has been initiated.
- A copy of the complaint and any attachments are sent to the respondent.
- The respondent is requested to submit a written answer to the complaint to be received by the JBCC within 20 days after receipt of the notice.
- If the respondent is a provisionally certified guardian, the JBCC shall also send a copy of the complaint and attachments to the guardian’s supervisor.
As a standard practice, the Compliance Investigator will interview the complainant, the respondent, and any pertinent witnesses, either by telephone or in person. The investigator will also gather copies of any documents relevant to the complaint. After the investigation is complete, the investigator will prepare a detailed report of the facts including who, what, when, where how and why.