New Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability Proceedings Take Effect Next Month

The Judicial Conference of the United States has approved the first-ever binding, nationwide set of rules for handling conduct and disability complaints against federal judges. The new 29 Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability Proceedings, which take effect in mid-April, are authorized under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980 that allows any person to file a complaint alleging that a federal judge has engaged in conduct "prejudicial to the effective and expeditious administration of the business of the courts." The statute also permits the filing of a complaint relating to a judge's inability to perform his or her duties because of "mental or physical disability."

Press Release | Text of Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability Proceedings (pdf)

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