Rule 2-33. Statewide Grievance Committee

(a) The judges of the Superior Court shall appoint twenty-one persons to a committee to be known as the ''Statewide Grievance Committee.'' At least seven shall not be attorneys and the remainder shall be members of the bar of this state. The judges shall designate one member as chair and another as vice-chair to act in the absence or disability of the chair.

(b) All members shall serve for a term of three years commencing on July 1. Except as otherwise provided herein, no person shall serve as a member for more than two consecutive three year terms, excluding any appointments for less than a full term; a member may be reappointed after a lapse of one year. If the term of a member who is on a reviewing committee expires while a complaint is pending before that committee, the judges or the executive committee may extend the term of such member to such time as the reviewing committee has completed its action on that complaint. In the event of such an extension the total number of Statewide Grievance Committee members may exceed twenty-one. The appointment of any member may be revoked or suspended by the judges or by the executive committee of the Superior Court. In connection with such revocation or suspension, the judges or the executive committee shall appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term or for any other appropriate period. In the event that a vacancy arises in this position before the end of a term by reasons other than revocation or suspension, the executive committee of the Superior Court shall fill the vacancy for the balance of the term or for any other appropriate period. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the committee must have at least a quorum present to act, and a quorum shall be eleven. The committee shall act by a vote of a majority of those present and voting, provided that a minimum of six votes for a particular action is necessary for the committee to act. Members present but not voting due to disqualification, abstention, silence or a refusal to vote, shall be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum, but not counted in calculating a majority of those present and voting.

(c) In addition to any other powers and duties set forth in this chapter, the Statewide Grievance Committee shall:

(1) Institute complaints involving violations of General Statutes § 51-88.

(2) Adopt rules to carry out its duties under this chapter which are not inconsistent with these rules.

(3) Adopt rules for grievance panels to carry out their duties under this chapter which are not inconsistent with these rules.

(4) In its discretion, disclose that it or the statewide bar counsel has referred a complaint to a panel for investigation when such disclosure is deemed by the committee to be in the public interest.

Committee Notes

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 27G.)