National Rules Adopted for Judicial Conduct and Disability Proceedings

A news release (3/11/20008) on the U.S.Courts web site
announces that the the Judicial Conference of the United
States "today approved the first-ever binding, nationwide
set of rules for handling conduct and disability complaints against
federal judges, bringing consistency and rigor to the process."

The new rules, which take effect in 30 days, are authorized under
the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980. The Act 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."