Section 102. Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in these rules shall have the following meanings, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:

Board is the Judicial Conduct Board.

Board Complaint is the formal charging document filed by the Board to initiate proceedings in the Court pursuant to Article V, § 18(b)(5) of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Charges are the formal charges contained in the Board Complaint filed with the Court by the Board alleging that a judicial officer has been convicted of a felony, violated Article V, § 17 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, engaged in misconduct in office, neglected or failed to perform the duties of office or engaged in conduct which prejudiced the proper administration of justice or brought the judicial office into disrepute, violated a canon of legal or judicial ethics or standards of conduct or a rule of the Supreme Court, or that the judicial officer is mentally or physically disabled.

Clerk is the person appointed by the Court to serve as Clerk of the Court.

Conference Judge is a Court member appointed by the President Judge following the filing of a Board Complaint, to preside at the pre-trial conference, to rule on the omnibus motion, and, during a panel hearing, to make evidentiary rulings. A Conference Judge may also be appointed by the President Judge to rule on petitions filed in proceedings other than those initiated by the filing of a Board Complaint.

Court is the Court of Judicial Discipline. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term shall include a panel.

Full Court is at least a quorum of the Court.

Judicial Officer includes magisterial district judges, judges of the Philadelphia Municipal and Traffic Courts, judges of the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court, judges of the courts of common pleas, the Commonwealth Court, and the Superior Court, justices of the Supreme Court and senior judges or magisterial district judges of any court.

Majority is a majority of the members of the Court qualified to vote.

Panel is a group of no fewer than three members of the Court appointed by the President Judge.

Petition for Relief is a document filed pursuant to these Rules to initiate proceedings other than formal charges in the Court.

President Judge is a member of the Court elected by the Court to act as the President Judge.

Quorum is five members of the Court.

Verification is a written statement of fact by the signer, supported by oath or affirmation or made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification of authorities.

The provisions of this Rule 102 adopted March 16, 1994, effective March 16, 1994. Amended May 31, 1994, effective May 31, 1994; amended November 1, 1994, effective January 1, 1995; amended January 19, 2000, effective immediately, 30 Pa.B. 619; amended December 12, 2000, effective immediately, 30 Pa.B. 6542; amended December 5, 2001, effective immediately, 31 Pa.B. 6917; amended September 6, 2006, effective immediately, 36 Pa.B. 5870. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (309854) and (286497).