Audit of the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct (November 26, 2025)

This is a state performance audit of the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct, the agency that handles complaints and discipline involving state judges.

“CJC investigates allegations of misconduct by state court judges; investigates allegations that a judge has a disability preventing them from properly performing their judicial duties; and performs remedial actions or discipline against judges when necessary.”

Auditors checked whether the commission’s website met accessibility rules for things like keyboard use, navigation, language, error messages, and color contrast.

“The purpose of this performance audit was to determine whether CJC’s website adhered to the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 for user accessibility, keyboard accessibility, navigation accessibility, language, error identification, and color accessibility.”

If the website is not accessible, people with disabilities may have a harder time getting information or using online services from the commission.

“Noncompliance with WCAG 2.1 reduces accessibility for individuals with disabilities and limits equitable access to CJC information and services.”

For an ordinary resident, this matters because the website is where people can file complaints about judges and learn how the complaint process works.

“On CJC’s website, users can file complaints against judges, learn about the complaint process, as well as review past complaints and CJC’s annual reports.”

Auditors tested 20 webpages and found 2 that did not meet accessibility standards: one had a broken link, and one could not be fully used with a keyboard.

“We reviewed a sample of 20 webpages and found that 2 webpages were not compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.”

The auditor’s office said it will check back in about six months to see what the commission has done about the issue.

“As part of our post-audit review process, we will follow up on this matter in approximately six months.”

This is significant because government websites are a major way people get public information and services, so accessibility problems can block equal access.

“Government websites are an important way for the general public to access government information and services.”

WCAG is a set of website accessibility guidelines meant to help make websites usable by people with disabilities.

“In 1999, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international nongovernmental organization responsible for internet standards, published the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0 to provide guidance on how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities.”