A file is initiated with the Commission on Judicial Conduct when the Commission receives a telephone complaint.

• A. True
• B. Only if the complaint is written and signed
• C. Only if the complainant is an attorney
• D. False

Answer: (D)

Opening a formal file with the Commission on Judicial Conduct generally requires a written, signed complaint rather than just a telephone report. A phone complaint may be accepted for informal intake or used to gather initial information, but it does not by itself activate a formal investigation. The written document provides the specifics, the complainant’s identity and signature, and consent to proceed, creating an auditable record and enabling the commission to initiate a preliminary review or investigation. While a phone report may trigger further steps, the formal file hinges on a written, signed complaint, so a telephone complaint alone does not initiate the file.