(a) Members. The commission is comprised of eleven members appointed to staggered, six-year terms in specific categories as provided in article 6. 1, § 1 of the constitution. Membership shall terminate if a member ceases to hold the position that qualified him or her for appointment. An appointment to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be made in the same manner as provided for an original appointment.

(b) Officers. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a secretary, each of whom may serve successive two-year terms. If an officer resigns or ceases to be a member of the commission, the commission shall elect another member to fill the remaining term of the vacated office.

(c) Duties of officers. The chairperson shall perform the duties normally associated with the office and shall preside over all general meetings of the full commission. The vice-chairperson shall act as chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. In the absence of both the chairperson and vice-chairperson, the members present at the meeting shall select an acting chairperson. The secretary, assisted by the executive director, shall keep the permanent minutes of commission meetings. The chairperson may appoint an acting secretary in the absence or inability of the secretary to perform these duties.

(d) Quorum. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for business transacted before the full commission. Three members shall constitute a quorum for an investigative panel and six members shall constitute a quorum for a hearing panel, providing that both panels shall include at least one public member.

(e) Meetings. The chairperson or any three members may call a meeting of the full commission and designate when and where the meeting shall be held. The chairperson or executive director shall notify each member of the time and place of any meeting.

(f) Panels. When necessary under these rules, the chairperson shall divide the commission into an investigative panel of three members and a hearing panel of eight members, and shall designate a member to preside over each panel. Whenever possible panels shall include members from each category of membership (judges, attorneys, and public members), and shall meet at the direction of the presiding member. No member who sits on an investigative panel during a particular case may sit on a hearing panel for the same case.

(g) Expenses. Commission members shall not be compensated for their services, but may be reimbursed for their travel and other expenses incidental to the performance of their duties.

(h) Disqualification. A member of the commission shall disqualify himself or herself in any matter in which disqualification would be required of a judge under the code.

(i) Complaints against judicial members. If a complaint is filed against a judicial member of the commission, that member shall not participate in the investigation or adjudication of the matter.