Judicial Conduct and Disability

Pursuant to statute, 28 U.S.C. §§ 351 et al. and the Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability Proceedings (pdf), any person may file a written complaint with the Circuit Executive concerning the actions or behavior of a judge of this court.  The form that may be used for a complaint is provided at the end of the rules and can be found here (pdf).

Please note the following to avoid the rejection or summary dismissal of your complaint:

• This court will not accept complaints against judges holding office in other jurisdictions who did not sit by designation with this court.  A complaint against a judge “must be filed with the circuit clerk in the jurisdiction in which the subject judge holds office.”  Rule 7(a)(1) of the Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability Proceedings.  A complaint filed with this court concerning a judge who is not a member of this court or who did not sit by designation with this court will be dismissed.  Rule 11(c)(1)(F) of the Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability Proceedings.
• Many complaints are dismissed because they pertain to the merits of a case or because the complaint is frivolous or lacking sufficient evidence to raise an inference that misconduct has occurred.  See 28 U.S.C. § 352(b)(1)(A).  Thus, the complaint procedure is not an appropriate way to challenge the court’s decision in a particular case.