San Francisco Democratic Party seeking Judicial Commissioners

Special Committee on Sexual Assault and Harassment in the San Francisco Political Community

Position Description: Judicial Commissioner

Employment Type: Volunteer

Compensation: Unpaid

Position Overview

Judicial Commissioner

The Judicial Commissioner serves on the Judicial Commission, which is made up of 6 people who will serve for one-year terms. An Adjudication Panel and an Appellate Adjudication Panel are made of three Judicial Commissioners, and are assembled on an ad hoc basis per incident.

Judicial Commissioner duties include:

• Making determinations of whether a violation of the Code of Conduct and Policies occurred by a preponderance of evidence gathered by the Investigator
• Requesting additional information from the Investigator if needed
• Submitting the ruling to the Chair of the Judicial Commission
• Determining consequences by referencing the Guidelines on Consequences in the Appendix of the Code of Conduct and Policies
• Maintaining neutrality and avoiding any conflicts of interest with individuals involved in the matter.

This is a remote position that does not need to be based in San Francisco. Individuals not from San Francisco with limited or no connection to San Francisco politics are encouraged to apply. While the Code of Conduct and Policies for Sexual Assault and Harassment for the San Francisco Democratic Party is not a legal document, those with legal backgrounds, and experience with Title IX issues in sexual harassment and assault are encouraged to apply.

Chair of the Judicial Commission

The Chair of the Judicial Commission is a member of the Judicial Commission and selected by the Judicial Commission. The duties of the Chair of the Judicial Commission includes:

• Project managing the process of incidents during Stage V: Determination, Stage VI: Remedies & Consequences, and Stage VII: Conclusion of the Code of Conduct and Policies
• Receiving Investigator reports
• Creating Adjudication Panels and Appellate Adjudication Panels within 5 business days from receipt of completion of investigation, or receipt of appeal
• Receiving determinations by Adjudication Panels and Appellate Adjudication Panel
• Finalizing report at the conclusion of incidents and submitting reports to the SFDCCC and Democratic Club involved

The Chair of Judicial Commission will interface with the Ombudsperson, Investigators, Judicial Commissioners, Complainant, Respondent, restorative facilitator, and Democratic Club leadership.

The Chair of Judicial Commission will make a good faith effort to ensure Commissioners selected per incident do not have a personal, professional, or political relationship with any party involved in the incident.

Key Responsibilities for Judicial Commission

Make Determination: Determinations are based on information gathered by Investigators. Determinations can be: accusation has been substantiated, accusation has been partially substantiated, accusation cannot be substantiated.

Determine Consequences: Determine consequences by referencing the Guidelines on Consequences in the Appendix of the Code of Conduct and Policies.

Reports: Create reports at the conclusion of incidents to be submitted to the SFDCCC

Background

The San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (SFDCCC), also known as the San Francisco Democratic Party, has adopted a first-of-its-kind accountability framework to for sexual harassment and assault in the political environment. The process is outlined in the ‘Code of Conduct and Policies for Sexual Assault and Harassment for the San Francisco Democratic Party’ (Code of Conduct and Policies) approved by the San Francisco Democratic Party on December 4, 2024.

Political spaces have long been rife with sexual assault and harassment due to inherent power dynamics, the temporary nature of political campaigns, reliance on volunteers, and the nature of power and influence as the predominant currency in the industry.

This new policy is an ambitious framework which includes a robust process for reporting, investigation, and repercussions in order to change the culture that has allowed harassment and assault to persist in the political industry.

The policies consist of mechanisms for confidentiality, guardrails for independence to prevent political meddling, a structure to give club leadership agency to lead in creating their own solutions, and includes restorative facilitation for education and healing.

In order to implement the policies, the SFDCCCC is seeking:

1) An Ombudsperson

2) Judicial Commissioners (6 positions).

These positions will serve ad hoc, on a volunteer or pro bono basis. Candidates do not need to be from San Francisco. In fact, candidates with minimal or no ties to the San Francisco Democratic Party are encouraged to apply.

For more information on this policy, please go here.

About the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee

The San Francisco Democratic Party is the official organization for Democrats in the City and County of San Francisco. Also known as the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (SF DCCC), we represent one of the most active communities of Democrats in California, with more than 320,000 members. https://www.sfdemocrats.org/