In cases involving allegations of serious misconduct, the Commission typically institutes public proceedings after the preliminary investigation is complete. When these proceedings are instituted the Examiner files a complaint based on the authorization of the Commission, which constitutes a formal statement of the charges, and the matter becomes public. 

The Commission notes that the term "public" refers to proceedings after a complaint is filed. It replaces the term "formal" as that description of the proceedings is not used in the Michigan Court Rules. However, public proceedings will continue to be labeled "FC" followed by the applicable complaint number.

The Pending Public Complaints and Recent Supreme Court Decisions tab on the left links to a page listing the Commission's pending public complaints and those recently resolved by the Michigan Supreme Court.  That tab includes access to the documents relating to public proceedings posted in each case as they are available; the most significant of those are: 

• Complaint (filed by Disciplinary Counsel)
• Answer (filed by the Respondent judicial officer)
• Master’s report (filed after the public hearing)
• Decision and Recommendation (filed by the Commission after briefing and oral argument)
• Decision (issued by the Michigan Supreme Court after briefing and oral argument)

Matters submitted to the Supreme Court by consent are also listed. Those cases typically include a Decision and Recommendation based on a Settlement Agreement, and if approved by the Supreme Court will result in a decision which will be posted. 

In addition, the Commission cases that are pending before the Michigan Supreme Court are identified on that page.

The Public Complaints and Disciplined Judicial Officers tab on the left provides an alphabetical list of all public judicial disciplinary proceedings and all publicly sanctioned judicial officers.  Please note that some cases are decided by the Supreme Court with the consent of the respondent and without a complaint being filed, so there is no public proceeding and therefore no "FC" complaint number.