Mich. Ct. R. 9.131

As amended through May 22, 2024

Rule 9.131 - Investigation of Member or Employee of Board or Commission, or Relative of Member or Employee of Board or Commission; Investigation of Attorney Representing Respondent or Witness; Other Investigations Creating the Possible Appearance of Impropriety; Representation by Member or Employee of Board or Commission

(A) Investigation of Commission Member or Employee, or Relative of Member or Employee of Commission. If the request is for investigation of an attorney who is a member or employee of the commission, or a relative of a member or employee of the commission, the following provisions apply:

(1) The administrator shall serve a copy of the request for investigation on the respondent by ordinary mail. Within 21 days after service, the respondent shall file with the administrator an answer to the request for investigation conforming to MCR 9.113. The administrator shall send a copy of the answer to the complainant.

(2) After the answer is filed or the time for answer has expired, the administrator shall send copies of the request for investigation and the answer to the Supreme Court clerk.

(3) The Supreme Court shall review the request for investigation and the answer and shall either dismiss the request for investigation or appoint volunteer legal counsel to investigate the matter.

(4) If, after conducting the investigation, appointed counsel determines that the request for investigation does not warrant the filing of a formal complaint, he or she shall file a report setting out the reasons for that conclusion with the administrator, who shall send a copy of the report to the Supreme Court clerk, the respondent, and the complainant. Review of a decision not to file a formal complaint is limited to a proceeding under MCR 9.122(A)(2). If appointed counsel determines not to file a complaint, the administrator shall close and maintain the file under MCR 9.114(E). MCR 9.126(A) governs the release of information regarding the investigation.

(5) If, after conducting the investigation, appointed counsel determines that the request for investigation warrants the filing of a formal complaint, he or she shall prepare and file a complaint with the board under MCR 9.115(B).

(6) Further proceedings are as in other cases except that the complaint will be prosecuted by appointed counsel rather than by the administrator.

If the request is for investigation of the administrator, the term "administrator" in this rule means a member of the commission or some other employee of the commission designated by the chairperson.

"Relative" includes spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, first cousin, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, sonin-law, mother-in-law, and father-in-law, whether natural, adopted, step or foster. The term also includes same-sex or different-sex individuals who have a relationship of a romantic, intimate, committed, or dating nature.

(B) Investigation of Board Member or Employee or Relative of Board Member or Employee. Before the filing of a formal complaint, the procedures regarding a request for investigation of a member or employee of the board or relative of a member or employee of the board, are the same as in other cases. Thereafter, the following provisions apply:

(1) The administrator shall file the formal complaint with the board and send a copy to the Supreme Court clerk.

(2) The chief justice shall appoint a hearing panel and may appoint a master to conduct the hearing. The hearing procedure is as provided in MCR 9.115, 9.117, or 9.120, as is appropriate, except that no matters shall be submitted to the board. Procedural matters ordinarily within the authority of the board shall be decided by the hearing panel, except that a motion to disqualify a member of the panel shall be decided by the chief justice.

(3) The order of the hearing panel is effective 21 days after it is filed and served as required by MCR 9.115(J), and shall be treated as a final order of the board. The administrator shall send a copy of the order to the Supreme Court clerk.

(4) MCR 9.118 does not apply. Review of the hearing panel decision is by the Supreme Court as provided by MCR 9.122.

"Relative" includes spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, first cousin, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, sonin-law, mother-in-law, and father-in-law, whether natural, adopted, step or foster. The term also includes same-sex or different-sex individuals who have a relationship of a romantic, intimate, committed, or dating nature.

(C) Investigation of Attorney Representing a Respondent or Witness in Proceedings Before Board or Commission.

(1) Request by a former client. A request for investigation filed by an attorney or witness against his or her counsel for alleged misconduct occurring in a disciplinary investigation or proceeding, shall be treated under the procedures set forth in MCR 9.112.

(2) Request by person other than former client. If a person other than the attorney's former client requests an investigation for alleged misconduct committed during the course of that attorney's representation of a respondent or a witness in proceedings before the board or the commission, the procedures in subrule (A) shall be followed. A request for investigation that alleges misconduct of this type may be filed only by the chairperson of the commission, and only if the commission passes a resolution authorizing the filing by the chairperson.

(D) Other Investigations Creating a Possible Appearance of Impropriety. If the administrator determines that an appearance of impropriety would arise if a request for investigation is handled in the manner prescribed by MCR 9.112(C), the administrator must submit the request for investigation to the Michigan Supreme Court along with a written explanation as to why the administrator believes an appearance of impropriety would arise. If the Court agrees with the administrator's determination under this subrule, the Court will notify the administrator and direct that the procedures in subrule (A) be followed. If the Court disagrees with the administrator's determination under this subrule, the Court will return the request for investigation to the administrator for an investigation in accordance with MCR 9.112(C).

(E) Representation by Commission or Board Member or Employee. A member or employee of the Attorney Grievance Commission or the Attorney Discipline Board and its hearing panels may not represent a respondent in proceedings before the commission, the board, or the Judicial Tenure Commission, including preliminary discussions with employees of the respective commission or board prior to the filing of a request for investigation.

Mich. Ct. R. 9.131

Amended May 23, 2018, effective 9/1/2018; amended March 27, 2024, effective 5/1/2024.

Staff Comment (ADM File No. 2022-45): The amendment of MCR 9.131 requires that the Attorney Grievance Commission (AGC) submit to the Supreme Court for review any requests for investigations received that involve allegations of attorney misconduct where the AGC administrator believes that an appearance of impropriety would arise if the AGC handled the investigation.