VA HB441

Expands the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission from 7 to 12 members, adding one Court of Appeals judge, two public members, and two lawyer members selected from recommendations by the Virginia State Bar, Commonwealth's Attorneys Association, and Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

Requires all Commission members and newly hired counsel to complete initial training on judicial ethics and the Canons of Judicial Conduct, with annual ethics training required thereafter for the duration of service

Mandates the Commission adopt a conflict of interest policy and a publicly available Code of Conduct governing member behavior, participation in political campaigns, and social media engagement, subject to approval by House and Senate Courts of Justice Committees

Authorizes the Commission to investigate complaints arising from pending or appealed cases and prohibits automatic dismissal of such complaints solely based on their pending status

Requires the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to share annual judicial performance evaluations with the Commission, which may use them as evidence in misconduct investigations involving judges with prior complaints