As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires
(A) "commission" means the Judicial Tenure Commission;(B) "judge" means: (1) a person who is serving as a judge or justice of any court of the judicial branch of state or local government by virtue of election, appointment, or assignment;(2) a magistrate or a referee of any such court; or(3) a person who formerly held such office if a request for investigation was filed during the person's term of office. If the person is no longer a judge and the alleged misconduct relates to the person's actions as a judge, it is not necessary that the request for investigation be filed during the former judge's term of office; nothing in this paragraph deprives the Attorney Grievance Commission of its authority to proceed against a former judge.(C) "respondent" is a judge against whom a request for investigation has been filed.(D) "chairperson" is the commission chairperson and includes the acting chairperson.(E) "master" means one or more judges or former judges appointed by the Supreme Court at the commission's request to hold hearings on a complaint against a respondent.(F) "disciplinary counsel" is the commission's executive director or other attorney appointed by the commission to act as the prosecutor in negotiating settlements, presenting evidence at the hearing on the complaint, and in proceedings in the Supreme Court other than litigating a recommendation on a complaint made after a hearing before the commission.(G) "commission counsel" is the attorney appointed by the commission to provide it with counsel whenever the commission appoints the executive director as disciplinary counsel, including acting in proceedings in the Supreme Court. The disciplinary counsel may not serve as the commission counsel in the same case.(H) "request for investigation" is an allegation of judicial misconduct, physical or mental disability, or other circumstance that the commission may undertake to investigate under Const 1963, art 6, §30, and MCR 9.220.(I) "complaint" is a written document issued at the direction of the commission, alleging specific charges of misconduct in office, mental or physical disability, or some other ground that warrants action under Const 1963, art 6, §30.Amended effective 9/1/2019.