Judicial Conduct & Disability
Under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act, anyone can file a complaint in federal court alleging that a federal judge has engaged in misconduct or become disabled.
The Judicial Conduct and Disability Act establishes a process by which any person can file a complaint in federal court alleging that a federal judge has engaged in "conduct prejudicial to the effective and expeditious administration of the business of the courts" or has become, by reason of a temporary or permanent condition, "unable to discharge the duties" of the judicial office. This process cannot be used as a means to collaterally attack a judge's rulings. An attorney can explain any rights you have as a litigant to seek review of a judicial decision.
Judicial Conduct & Disability Resources
Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980, 28 U.S.C. ยงยงย 351-364
Implementation of the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980: A Report to the Chief Justice (pdf)
Filing a Complaint of Judicial Misconduct or Judicial Disability Against a Federal Judge (pdf)
Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings,
as amended September 17, 2015 (pdf)
Circuit Resources
Each judicial circuit's website provides access to rules explaining how and where to file a complaint, as well as the form required for these complaints.
- First Circuit (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico)
- Second Circuit (Connecticut, New York, Vermont)
- Third Circuit (Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virgin Islands)
- Fourth Circuit (Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia)
- Fifth Circuit (Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas)
- Sixth Circuit (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee)
- Seventh Circuit (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin)
- Eighth Circuit (Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota)
- Ninth Circuit (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington)
- Tenth Circuit (Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming)
- Eleventh Circuit (Alabama, Florida, Georgia)
- District of Columbia Circuit (District of Columbia)
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Opinions of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability
- April 28, 2006 (pdf)
- January 14, 2008 (pdf)
- October 26, 2009 (pdf)
- April 12, 2010 (pdf)
- December 1, 2011 (pdf)
- January 17, 2014 (C.C.D. No. 13-01) (pdf)
- January 17, 2014 (C.C.D. No. 13-02) (pdf)
- February 19, 2015 (C.C.D. No. 14-01) (pdf)