Commission members hold positions of public trust. Public confidence in the commission and commission members is paramount. Any factors which might erode such public confidence, or be perceived to do so, shall be avoided. No commissioner shall engage in conduct in a manner which reflects discredit upon the commission. A commissioner shall carry out the duties of a commission member impartially, discreetly, and objectively.
A commissioner shall disclose to other commissioners all personal and business relationships with an applicant for judicial vacancy or a judge whose conduct is being investigated that may directly or indirectly influence the commissioner's decision. If a substantial conflict of interest is apparent, the commissioner shall disqualify himself from voting on further consideration of any affected applicants or judges and shall disqualify himself from participating in the investigation of a judge's conduct under the standards provided in Canon 3 E of the Judicial Code.
All pleadings, papers, evidence, records and files of the commission shall be confidential and privileged except as is otherwise provided by these rules.
SDCL tit. 16, ch. 1A, app TO CHAPTER 16-1A, I, 3