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Supreme Court Seal
South Carolina
Judicial Branch

RULE 20. MOTION BY DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL TO RE-OPEN DISMISSED COMPLAINTS

If a complaint has been dismissed, the allegations made in that complaint shall not be used for any purpose unless the complaint is re-opened by the Commission. A complaint dismissed prior to the filing of formal charges may be re-opened by an investigative panel upon motion of disciplinary counsel upon a finding by the investigative panel that there is new information concerning the matter dismissed, an additional complaint has been filed against the same judge involving related or similar allegations, or other good cause. Prior to a motion to re-open being decided, a copy of the motion to reopen containing the grounds therefor shall be served on the judge by disciplinary counsel, and the judge shall then have 10 days thereafter to file a written response with the Commission. The judge and the complainant shall be notified by disciplinary counsel as to the panel’s decision on the motion to re-open.

Amended by Order dated October 16, 2009, effective January 1, 2010.