7. When does the public learn about a complaint petition?

If we find probable cause that an ethics violation may have occurred, we vote in public that we found probable cause and we schedule a public complaint hearing. We write a letter to the respondent, with a copy to the complainant, outlining what has been alleged and what evidence we looked at. All documents related to the complaint become public as soon as -- and only if --we find probable cause.

If we do not find probable cause, the complaint ends and everything remains confidential, according to State statute 1-82a. We write a confidential letter to the complainant and respondent summarizing the facts and our decision. The only person who can request that the complaint become public at this stage is the respondent.