North Dakota Ethics Commission Adopts Changes to Complaint Process

New rules address concerns over bad faith complaints and streamline investigation timelines.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:15am

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The North Dakota Ethics Commission has adopted several updates to its complaint process, including a change that allows complaints filed in bad faith to be dismissed. The amendments also give people accused of ethics violations a formal avenue to request complaints be dismissed and allow the commission to directly settle ethics complaints with the accused. Additionally, the updated rules set new time management standards for processing ethics complaints.

Why it matters

These changes aim to address concerns that the ethics complaint process was being used as a political weapon, with public officials filing complaints to harm their opponents. The new rules provide a way to dismiss bad faith complaints and streamline the overall investigation process, which had been bogged down by a growing backlog of cases.

The details

The updated rules consider bad faith complaints to include those filed 'to harass or impugn the reputation' of the accused. Any complaints that fit this definition may be dismissed, though the commission decided against penalizing filers with fines due to concerns it could discourage citizens from reporting potential violations. The amendments also allow the accused to request complaints be dismissed on various grounds and give the commission the ability to directly settle ethics complaints, rather than just mediating between the accused and filer. Additionally, the rules set new time management standards, requiring the commission to dismiss complaints outside its jurisdiction within 60 days and mandating regular status updates on pending cases.

  • The North Dakota Ethics Commission adopted the updated complaint process rules on January 29, 2026.
  • In 2025, the state Legislature passed policy amendments that directed the commission to create a process for handling bad faith complaints.

The players

North Dakota Ethics Commission

The state government agency responsible for investigating complaints related to potential unethical conduct by public officials and candidates.

Cynthia Lindquist

The chair of the North Dakota Ethics Commission.

Rebecca Binstock

The executive director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission.

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What they’re saying

“I believe this is quite an accomplishment.”

— Cynthia Lindquist, Chair, North Dakota Ethics Commission

“Previously, the commission considered making bad faith complaints punishable by fines, though commissioners decided against it. Executive Director Rebecca Binstock said that this was because the state law that establishes the commission's complaint process doesn't say the body can penalize filers.”

— Rebecca Binstock, Executive Director, North Dakota Ethics Commission

What’s next

The North Dakota Ethics Commission indicated it will revisit a proposal to allow for public comment at future meetings at its next meeting in February.

The takeaway

These changes to the North Dakota Ethics Commission's complaint process aim to address concerns about the system being abused for political purposes, while also streamlining the investigation timeline. The new rules provide a way to dismiss bad faith complaints and give the accused more avenues to challenge complaints, though the commission decided against penalizing filers to avoid discouraging legitimate ethics reporting.