A.Definitions. In these rules, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires: (1) "Commission" means the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance.(2) "Supreme Court" means the Mississippi Supreme Court.(3) "Judge" means a Justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, Chancery Court, County Court, Family Court, Justice Court, Municipal Court, and all other courts in existence in Mississippi, including someone serving as a part-time judge, special judge or a judge in senior status. Reference to "the judge" shall mean any judge whose conduct or mental or physical condition is under consideration. (4) "Chairman" means the chairman of the Commission or the vice-chairman when serving as chairman.(5) "Member" means a member of the Commission or an alternate member serving in the place of a member of the Commission.(6) "Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.(7) The masculine gender includes the feminine gender.B.Purpose. The Commission was created in 1979 by the Mississippi Legislature and the voters of the State of Mississippi by constitutional amendment. The Commission shall enforce the standards of judicial conduct, inquire into judicial disability and conduct, protect the public from judicial misconduct and disabled judges, and protect the judiciary from unfounded allegations. All proceedings before the Commission shall be of a civil nature, not criminal, as the purpose of the Commission is to be rehabilitative and educational as well as disciplinary.C.Construction of Rules. These rules shall be liberally interpreted so as to carry out the mandate of the electorate by its approval of Section 177A of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890.R. Miss. Comm'n. Jud. Perform. 1
Amended effective 6/29/1995; amended effective3/27/1997.