A.All Proceedings. All proceedings before the Commission shall be confidential, except upon unanimous vote of the Commission, as prescribed in Section 177A of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890. Confidentiality shall attach upon the initiation of an inquiry and shall include all records, files and reports of the Commission. All proceedings before the Supreme Court and any final decisions made by the Supreme Court shall be made public as in other cases at law. However, an appeal from a private admonishment by the Commission shall be confidential unless on appeal the Supreme Court imposes sanctions harsher than the private admonishment.B.Disclosure. By unanimous vote, the Commission may waive confidentiality and disclose such information deemed appropriate by the Commission. Such action may be taken upon the Commission's own motion or upon written request of the judge.C.Violation by Staff. Employment of the executive director or any member of the staff may be terminated for violation of confidentiality.R. Miss. Comm'n. Jud. Perform. 4
Comment
Proceedings before the Commission and the Court in matters of judicial discipline are governed by Section 177A of the Mississippi Constitution. Generally, unless the Commission unanimously votes to make its proceedings public, they remain confidential. However, except in the case of an appeal by a judge of a private admonishment issued by the Commission against that judge, and in cases where the Court expressly seals the record following a private reprimand issued by the Court after the Commission has filed recommendations for more severe sanctions, proceedings before the Court and decisions of the Court are public.