Bill Summary: SF2205

• Restructures the Board on Judicial Standards by replacing its composition of judges, lawyers, and citizens with four House members and four Senate members, effective July 1, 2011.

• Transfers judicial discipline authority from the Supreme Court to the Board on Judicial Standards for suspension, removal, and retirement of judges convicted of crimes or guilty of misconduct.

• Allows the Board on Judicial Standards to reopen disciplinary matters previously closed due to statute of limitations or time restriction provisions.

• Creates a comprehensive Code of Judicial Conduct (sections 490A.05-490A.10) establishing conduct standards for full-time and part-time judges across eight major rules addressing independence, impartiality, integrity, extrajudicial activities, political campaign conduct, and disqualification requirements.

• Establishes the Board shall set the executive secretary's salary rather than tie it to administrative law judge compensation; requires all board meetings to be public, effective July 1, 2011.