Rule 12.22 Costs-How Paid-Taxation of

This rule explains who pays for the costs of a disciplinary case against a judge or other covered person. Normally, the state treasury covers all costs and expenses. The chairman of the Commission approves these payments, and the state commissioner of administration handles them.

There is one exception. If the Commission decides to retire, remove, or discipline someone, it can choose to make that person pay certain costs. This includes witness fees, mileage costs for witnesses that person called to testify, and the cost of serving subpoenas on those witnesses. The Commission gets to decide whether to charge these costs to the person, based on the situation.

In short, taxpayers usually cover the costs of these proceedings. But someone who is found to have done something wrong may end up paying for part of the costs related to their own witnesses.