Illustrative Orders
These selected illustrative orders provide information on how complaints of judicial misconduct or disability are addressed under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980.
The Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980 (“Act”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 351–364, and the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings (“Rules”) govern the process for filing a complaint of judicial misconduct or disability. This process cannot be used to challenge the correctness of a judge’s decision in a case, as a judicial decision that is unfavorable does not alone establish misconduct or a disability. Under the Act, a complaint challenging the correctness of a judge’s decision will be dismissed. For additional information about the process, please see Frequently Asked Questions for Filing a Judicial Conduct or Disability Complaint Against a Federal Judge.
The Rules, specifically Rule 24(b), provide that the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability will make selected illustrative orders, appropriately redacted, available on the Judiciary's public website to provide additional information to the public on how complaints are addressed under the Act.
In accordance with the Rules, the following non-routine, illustrative orders are available to show how non-frivolous complaints of judicial misconduct or disability have been addressed under the Act. The orders are grouped under broad, general categories to enhance their usefulness.
Action After Special Committee Appointment
- Public reprimand under 354(a)(2)(A)(ii)
- Private reprimand under 354(a)(2)(A)(iii)
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Suspension of New Cases 354(a)(2)(A)(i)
- 05-14-90120 (12/3/15 order)
- 07-18-90053
- Dismissal After Special Committee Investigation under 354(a)(1)(B)
- Conclusion based on Voluntary Corrective Action after Special Committee appointment under Rule 20(b)(1)(B)
- Conclusion based on Intervening Events after Special Committee appointment under Rule 20(b)(1)(B)
- Certifying Disability/Requesting Voluntary Retirement under 354(a)(2)(B)
Non-Routine Chief Judge Dismissals under 352(b)
- Dismissals based on Voluntary Corrective Action
- Chief Dismissals Following Limited Inquiry under Rule 11(b)
- Judicial Council Affirmance of Chief Judge Dismissal with Dissents
- Judicial Council Dismissals Based on Intervening Events