ND Ethics Commission makes effort to prevent complaint process from being “weaponized”

North Dakota State Capitol Building

The North Dakota Ethics Commission has overhauled its complaint process to prevent the system from being “weaponized” for political gain, according to the North Dakota Monitor. In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the commission adopted new rules allowing for the immediate dismissal of complaints filed in bad faith, which are defined as those intended solely to harass or damage the reputation of a public official.

The move follows a 2025 legislative mandate aimed at clearing a significant backlog that saw 42 complaints pending at the end of last year. Commissioners considered imposing fines for bad faith filings, but they ultimately declined, citing concerns that penalties might discourage citizens from reporting legitimate ethics violations.