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Archives of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability

Access historical information related to the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings.

Judicial Conduct and Disability Rules

A committee of circuit chief judges prepared the Illustrative Rules Governing Complaints of Judicial Misconduct and Disability in 1986, and the Judicial Conference of the United States adopted a revised set of these Rules in 2000. The Illustrative Rules Governing Complaints of Judicial Misconduct and Disability (pdf) are no longer in effect.

In 2008, the Judicial Conference adopted the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings (pdf), providing mandatory and nationally uniform provisions governing judicial conduct and disability proceedings. The Judicial Conference amended the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings (pdf) on September 17, 2015. The Judicial Conference again amended the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings (pdf) on March 12, 2019, which are currently in effect. 

Public Hearings

On October 30, 2018, the Judicial Conduct and Disability Committee held a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings (adopted on March 12, 2019). Historical materials related to the October 30, 2018, public hearing, including a video of the hearing, related witness statements, and other information, are available for review. 

On October 14, 2014, the Judicial Conduct and Disability Committee held a public hearing on proposed amendments to Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings (adopted on September 17, 2015). A transcript of the October 14, 2014, public hearing and related written statements are included below.

On September 27, 2007, the Judicial Conduct and Disability Committee held a public hearing on the proposed Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings (adopted March 11, 2008). A transcript of the September 27, 2007, public hearing and related written statements are included below.

Breyer Committee Report

In 2004, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist appointed a committee chaired by Justice Stephen Breyer to evaluate implementation of the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act. The committee presented its report, known as the Breyer Committee Report (pdf), in September 2006, which included numerous findings and recommendations.