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2092-1 Claims of Judicial Misconduct or Disability

The Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980 (28 U.S.C. §372(c)) authorizes complaints against United States judges who have "engaged in conduct prejudicial to the effective and expeditious administration of the business of the courts" or who are "unable to discharge all the duties of office by reason of mental or physical disability." The conduct to which the law is addressed does not include making wrong judicial decisions, and the law provides that a complaint may be dismissed if it is "directly related to the merits of a decision or procedural ruling."
 
The Fifth Circuit's Rules Governing Complaints of Judicial Misconduct or Disability apply to judges of federal courts within the Fifth Circuit, which comprises Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Copies of the rules may be obtained from, and written complaints filed at:
 
Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
600 Camp Street, Room 102
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130