Judicial Misconduct: The Mice Guard The Cheese

Wall Street Journal ^ | 12/31/09 | Nathan Koppel

[AtlasStalled]

Does the federal judiciary do a good enough job investigating misconduct complaints against its fellow judges?

It’s an oft debated topic that gets a particularly detailed airing today in this Houston Chronicle piece.

A spate of recent high-profile complaints against judges, including the sexual-abuse charges against former Texas federal judge Samuel Kent (pictured), has prompted experts and members of Congress alike to call for reforms and more disclosure of federal disciplinary decisions, the Chron reports.

The chief judges of the federal circuit courts oversee complaints against all the circuit, district, bankruptcy and magistrate judges in their regions.

But in seven circuits, according to the Chron, chief judges took no public disciplinary action at all in the last decade, “meaning not a single federal judge faced any sanctions in 29 states with more than 875 full-time federal judges, despite thousands of complaints.”

[Angry Mad Scientist]

Hmmm,
Interesting article, but probably nothing will happen in the end run - be it liberal or conservative appointed judges.
Still waiting for the 10th’s decision on “Naughty” Nottingham. Wonder how this would work out for you or me if the places were switched???

http://knowyourcourts.com/Nottingham/Nottingham.htm

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_10777031

[Huck]

That’s a great headline and describes the entire workings of the national (federal is a misnomer) judiciary. Unchecked power.

[Cyman]

“The federal justice system would break down if every complaint from disgruntled litigants got a full airing.”

God forbid that we hold the judiciary to the same standards that we hold let’s say .... a doctor.