USA Law

Judicial Ethics

Judicial Ethics in the United States

Judicial Ethics and the Federal Courts

In the words of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts: Federal judges abide by the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, a set of ethical principles and guidelines adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States. The Code of Conduct provides guidance for judges on issues of judicial integrity and independence, judicial diligence and impartiality, permissible extra-judicial activities, and the avoidance of impropriety or even its appearance. Judges may not hear cases in which they have personal knowledge of the disputed facts, a personal bias concerning a party to the case, earlier involvement in the case as a lawyer, or a financial interest in any party or subject matter of the case. Many federal judges devote time to public service and educational activities. They have a distinguished history of service to the legal profession through their writing, speaking, and teaching. This important role is recognized in the Code of Conduct, which encourages judges to engage in activities to improve the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice.

Judicial Ethics

The limits of White (viewpoint), Gray, Cynthia, 89: 315-316, 352 (May-June '06, AJS Judicature)

  • Making Judges Hypocrites (letter), Staples, Fred R., 62: 316 (Feb. '79, AJS Judicature)
  • Military Judges and Military Justice: The Path to Judicial Independence, Fidell, Eugene R., 74: 14-20 (Jun.-Jul. '90, AJS Judicature)
  • Money and politics in judicial elections: the 1988 election of the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, Jackson, Donald W. and Riddlesperger, James W., Jr., 74: 184-189 (Dec.-Jan. '91, AJS Judicature)
  • Moral Principles, Traditions, and Fairness in the Navajo Nation Code of Judicial Conduct, Nso, Tom, 76: 15-21 (Jun.-Jul. '92, AJS Judicature)
  • More progress (and politics) in federal judicial accountability (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 91: 268-269 (May-Jun '08, AJS Judicature)
  • The need for hortatory standards of judicial conduct (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 87: 96, 149 (Nov.-Dec. '03, AJS Judicature)
  • New York Judicial Commission Charges Many Judges Fix Tickets (news), Author, No, 61: 91 (Aug. '77, AJS Judicature)
  • Not adopted (letter), Gray, Cynthia, 91: 56 (Sep-Oct '07, AJS Judicature)
  • Participation by Judges in Civic and Charitable Activities: What Are The Limits?, Lubet, Steven, 69: 68-76 (Aug.-Sep. '85, AJS Judicature)
  • Perceptions and experiences of gender fairness in Mississippi courts, Winkle, John W., III and Wedeking, Justin, 87: 126-134 (Nov.-Dec. '03, AJS Judicature)
  • Political Impartiality (letter), Bachrach, Eve. E., 62: 5 (Jun.-Jul. '78, AJS Judicature)
  • The politicization of the judiciary (viewpoint), Friedman, Terry B., 82: 6-7 (July-Aug. '98, AJS Judicature)
  • Politics and progress in federal judicial accountability (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 90: 52-53,92 (2, AJS Judicature)
  • Practical steps toward an impartial judiciary (viewpoint), Gray, Cynthia, 92: 146-147 (4, AJS Judicature)
  • Preventing Judicial Misconduct: Defining the Role of Conduct Organizations, Gardiner, John A., 70: 113-121 (Aug.-Sep. '86, AJS Judicature)
  • Promoting judicial independence (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 80: 152 (Jan.-Feb. '97, AJS Judicature)
  • Public comment on cases (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 92: 175 (4, AJS Judicature)
  • A Questionable Exclusion (letter), Cohn, Avern, 78: 5 (Jul.-Aug. '94, AJS Judicature)
  • Recommendations by judges: what are the limits?, Gray, Cynthia, 79: 310-313 (May-June '96, AJS Judicature)
  • Report and recommendations issued in “Kids for Cash” scandal (focus), Gray, Cynthia, 93: 255, 260 (6, AJS Judicature)
  • A Reporter's Notes on the Boston Conference, Devroy, Ann, 63: 249-250 (Nov. '79, AJS Judicature)
  • A Reporter's View of Relations with Judges, Knoche, Eldon, 70: 268-269 (Feb.-Mar. '87, AJS Judicature)
  • Returning to Private Practice: The Dilemmas Judges Face (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 73: 124 (Oct.-Nov. '89, AJS Judicature)
  • Revising the 1990 American Bar Association Model Code of Judicial Conduct, Gray, Cynthia, 87: 119-125 (Nov.-Dec. '03, AJS Judicature)
  • Rose Bird and the Politics of Judicial Accountability in California, Culver, John H. and Wold, John T., 70: 81-89 (Aug.-Sep. '86, AJS Judicature)
  • Russell, Jesse (viewpoint), Burke, Kevin S., 95: 251-254 (May-June '12, AJS Judicature)
  • A Salacious Innuendo? (letter), Henry, M. L., Jr., 70: 321 (Apr.-May '87, AJS Judicature)
  • The Senate's Confirmation Role in Supreme Court Nominations and the Politics of Ideology Versus Impartiality, Melone, Albert P., 75: 68-79 (Aug.-Sep. '91, AJS Judicature)
  • Serving on governmental commissions: what are the limits for judges?, Gray, Cynthia, 86: 200-209 (Jan.-Feb. '03, AJS Judicature)
  • Should A Clerk Ever Reveal Confidential Information? (query), Abramson, Jeffrey B., 63: 361-363, 402-404 (Mar. '80, AJS Judicature)
  • Should judges do independent research on scientific issues?, Cheng, Edward K., 90: 58-61 (Sept-Oct '06, AJS Judicature)
  • Should Judges Know Who Gave to Their Campaign? (query), Baum, Victor J., 60: 258-259 (Jan. '77, AJS Judicature)
  • Should We Judge All Judges By the Misdeeds of the Few? (query), Curry, Richard L., 67: 472-473, 509 (May '84, AJS Judicature)
  • Some Firsthand Observations on the Election of Judges (letter), Waltz, Jon R., 63: 184-188 (Oct. '79, AJS Judicature)
  • State Cannot Prohibit Retired Judge From Practicing Before His Old Court (decision of note), Stiegler, Mayo H., 64: 469-470 (May '81, AJS Judicature)
  • State supreme courts play key role in judicial discipline (focus), Gray, Cynthia, 86: 267-268 (Mar.-Apr. '03, AJS Judicature)
  • The state's response to Republican Party of Minnesota v. White (focus), Gray, Cynthia, 86: 163-164 (Nov.-Dec. '02, AJS Judicature)
  • Statement Before the Joint Select Committee on the Judiciary of the Texas Legislature, Schotland, Roy A., 72: 154-157 (Oct.-Nov. '88, AJS Judicature)
  • States Can Make Judges Quit Before Running for Political Office (news), Lee, David L., 61: 335-336 (Feb. '78, AJS Judicature)
  • Steps forward, steps back on judicial ethics (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 90: 100-101 (Nov-Dec '06, AJS Judicature)
  • Supreme Court justices and the Code of Conduct (editorial), Author, No, 95: 4, 6 (July-Aug '11, AJS Judicature)
  • Supreme court/legislature at odds in New Hampshire (focus), Gray, Cynthia, 84: 291-292 (Mar.-Apr. '01, AJS Judicature)
  • Survey of Hawaii judges explores disqualification and recusal issues (focus), No, Author, 92: 34-36 (1, AJS Judicature)
  • Taking disqualification seriously, ABA Judicial Disqualification Project, No, Author, 92: 12-17 (1, AJS Judicature)
  • Ten States adopt new codes of judicial conduct (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 93: 32 (1, AJS Judicature)
  • The Tenure of Judges (letter), Hall, Robert H., 70: 320-321 (Apr.-May '87, AJS Judicature)
  • Testimony Before the Joint Select Committee on the Judiciary of the Texas Legislature, Kelly, Cynthia, 72: 158-161 (Oct.-Nov. '88, AJS Judicature)
  • A Timely Topic (letter), Zavodnyik, Ernest S., 63: 308 (Feb. '80, AJS Judicature)
  • The too friendly judge? Social networks and the bench (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 93: 236-237 (6, AJS Judicature)
  • The too friendly judge? Social networks and the bench (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 93: 236-237 (6, AJS Judicature)
  • Top judicial ethics stories of 2010 (focus), Gray, Cynthia, 94: 187-191 (Jan-Feb '11, AJS Judicature)
  • Two More States Adopt the Code of Judicial Conduct (focus), Shaman, Jeffrey M., 71: 56 (Jun.-Jul. '87, AJS Judicature)
  • Two of Michigan's Worst Judges – And What T
    heir Cases Teach, Jenkins, William O., Jr., 63: 206-219 (Nov. '79, AJS Judicature)
  • Uncertain Dancers: Judges and the News Media, Drechsel, Robert E., 70: 264-272 (Feb.-Mar. '87, AJS Judicature)
  • Upholding judicial ethics standards (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 81: 184 (Mar.-Apr. '98, AJS Judicature)
  • Volunteer items (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 93: 32 (1, AJS Judicature)
  • Voters Decide on Judicial Selection, Discipline and Compensation Issues (focus), Sampson, Kathleen M., 70: 247, 253 (Dec.-Jan. '87, AJS Judicature)
  • Washington Committee for Ethical Judicial Campaigns (brief), Eckley, Timothy S., 92: 43 (1, AJS Judicature)
  • What judicial candidates can say (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 84: 4 (July-Aug. '00, AJS Judicature)
  • What the Morial Decision Means, Woodward, M. Truman, 61: 422-428 (Apr. '78, AJS Judicature)
  • When Good People Do Good Things: The Ethical Dimension of Judicial Involvement In Victim Assistance Programs, Lubet, Steven, 69: 199-201, 246 (Dec.-Jan. '86, AJS Judicature)
  • Who Will Control the Judiciary? (query), Adams, Arlin M., 70: 142-143, 174-175 (Oct.-Nov. '86, AJS Judicature)
  • The worst-kept secret in the courthouse, Gray, Cynthia, 90: 30-36 (July-Aug '06, AJS Judicature)

  • Resources

    Further Reading

    • “Fair Plan” for Campaign Gifts Delayed in Detroit (news), Schulert, Barbara, 60: 194 (Nov. '76, AJS Judicature)
    • “Best Practices”: Supplemental Practicum for Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judges, Duncan, Jayne and Gadzicki, Walter, 95: 241 (Mar.-Apr. '12, AJS Judicature)
    • 13th National College on Judicial Conduct and Ethics Encourages Debate (focus), Milord, Lisa L., 76: 201-202 (Dec.-Jan. '93, AJS Judicature)
    • 1986 – A Historic Year for Judicial Elections (focus), Schotland, Roy A., 70: 246-247 (Dec.-Jan. '87, AJS Judicature)
    • The 1990 ABA Code of Judicial Conduct (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 74: 124, 170 (Oct.-Nov. '90, AJS Judicature)
    • 1990 Code of Judicial Conduct, Judicial Elections Among Issues Discussed At 12th National Conference for Judicial Conduct Organizations (focus), Carmody, Cris, 74: 225-226 (Dec.-Jan. '91, AJS Judicature)
    • The 1990 Code of Judicial Conduct: An Overview, Shaman, Jeffrey M., Lubet, Steven, and Alfini, James J., 74: 21-27 (Jun.-Jul. '90, AJS Judicature)
    • ABA Judicial Code of Conduct, Author, No, 69: 77-81 (Aug.-Sep. '85, AJS Judicature)
    • ABA to evaluate Code of Judicial Conduct (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 87: 87 (Sept.-Oct. '03, AJS Judicature)
    • After California, What's Next for Judicial Elections? (panel discussion), Discussion, Panel, 70: 356-364 (Apr.-May '87, AJS Judicature)
    • AJS comments on federal judicial conduct rules (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 91: 152 (Nov-Dec '07, AJS Judicature)
    • AJS Holds First Judicial Ethics Forum (focus), Macmanus, Shelia, 72: 304-305 (Feb.-Mar. '89, AJS Judicature)
    • AJS joins Caperton brief (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 92: 175 (4, AJS Judicature)
    • American Bar Association 2007 Model Code of Judicial Conduct Disqualification Rule, No, Author, 92: 10-11 (1, AJS Judicature)
    • Another Dilemma (letter), Crumpacker, E.D., 73: 237, 289 (Feb.-Mar. '90, AJS Judicature)
    • Another successful National College on Judicial Conduct and Ethics concludes in Chicago (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 95: 140 (Nov.-Dec. '11, AJS Judicature)
    • Appellate courts must conduct independent research of Daubert issues to discover “junk science”, Keasler, Michael E. and Cramer, Cathy, 90: 62-64 (Sept-Oct '06, AJS Judicature)
    • Appellate courts should resist the temptation to conduct their own independent research on scientific issues, Keller, Sharon and Cimics, Donald, 90: 64-65 (Sept-Oct '06, AJS Judicature)
    • Argument for Merit Selection (letter), Henry, M. L., Jr., 74: 289 (Apr.-May '91, AJS Judicature)
    • Assessing the Functions of Judicial Conduct Organizations, Miller, Benjamin K., 75: 16-19 (Jun.-Jul. '91, AJS Judicature)
    • Author's Answer (letter), Jenkins, William O., Jr., 63: 464 (May '80, AJS Judicature)
    • Avoiding the appearance of impropriety: With great power comes great responsibility, Gray, Cynthia, 89: 35-37, 49 (July-Aug. '05, AJS Judicature)
    • Becoming A Judge: Problems with Leaving A Law Practice, Goldstein, Candice, 69: 88-94 (Aug.-Sep. '85, AJS Judicature)
    • California Commission Won't File Charges in Probe of Supreme Court (news), Tesitor, Irene A., 63: 296-297 (Dec.-Jan. '80, AJS Judicature)
    • California reports on judicial discipline rates (brief), Richert, David, 86: 172 (Nov.-Dec. '02, AJS Judicature)
    • California revises conduct code (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 91: 208 (Jan-Feb '08, AJS Judicature)
    • California, Massachusetts amend ethics codes affecting membership (focus), Gray, Cynthia, 87: 39 (July-Aug. '05, AJS Judicature)
    • Campaign contributions, judicial decisions, and the Texas Supreme Court: Assessing the appearance of impropriety, McCall, Madhavi M. and McCall, Michael A., 90: 214-225 (Mar-Apr '07, AJS Judicature)
    • Campaign contributors and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (focus), Reddick, Malia and Debuse, James R., 93: 164-165 (4, AJS Judicature)
    • Canons, cost, and competition in state supreme court elections, Peters, Scott C., 91: 27-35 (Jul-Aug '07, AJS Judicature)
    • Case-law following Republican Party of Minnesota v. White (focus), Gray, Cynthia, 93: 26-27, 31 (1, AJS Judicature)
    • Changes in Code of Judicial Conduct, Judicial Campaigns and Alcohol Abuse Among Topics Debated at 11th National Conference (focus), Macmanus, Shelia, 72: 185-188 (Oct.-Nov. '88, AJS Judicature)
    • A Changing Society, A Changing Judiciary, On Both Sides of the Atlantic, Shetreet, Shimon, 60: 332-341 (Feb. '77, AJS Judicature)
    • Charitable fund raising (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 93: 32-33 (1, AJS Judicature)
    • Committee to evaluate Judicial Conduct and Disability Act (focus), Tobias, Carl, 88: 36-37 (July-Aug. '04, AJS Judicature)
    • Conference considers judicial reform (focus), Reddick, Malia and Albertsen, Joanne, 92: 80-83 (2, AJS Judicature)
    • Confidentiality, Public Access to Records Examined at Judicial Conduct Conference (focus), Burnham, David, 70: 244-246 (Dec.-Jan. '87, AJS Judicature)
    • The Confirmation Process: Too Much Advice and Too Little Consent, Reynolds, W. Bradford, 75: 80-82 (Aug.-Sep. '91, AJS Judicature)
    • Court Reform: A View from the Bottom, Lamber, Julia and Luskin, Mary Lee, 75: 295-299 (Apr.-May '92, AJS Judicature)
    • Court Rules Federal Judges Must Disclose Financial Data (news), Author, No, 63: 354 (Feb. '80, AJS Judicature)
    • Court Says New York Judge Must Resign To Run For Congress (decision of note), Stiegler, Mayo H., 64: 469 (May '81, AJS Judicature)
    • The Dangers of Ex Parte Communications (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 74: 288-289 (Apr.-May '91, AJS Judicature)
    • The Defeat of the California Justices: The Campaign, the Electorate, and the Issue of Judicial Accountability, Wold, John T. and Culver, John H., 70: 348-355 (Apr.-May '87, AJS Judicature)
    • Del Rio's Interim Suspension (letter), Alterman, Irwin, 63: 464 (May '80, AJS Judicature)
    • Disdain for the Electoral Process? (letter), Lutz, Hartwell B., 63: 308 (Feb. '80, AJS Judicature)
    • Documenting Gender Bias in the Courts: The Task Force Approach, Schafran, Lynn Hecht, 70: 280-290 (Feb.-Mar. '87, AJS Judicature)
    • Ducks redux (viewpoint), Lubet, Steven, 91: 223-225,259 (Mar-Apr '08, AJS Judicature)
    • Economic independence for federal judges (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 84: 56 (Sept.-Oct. '00, AJS Judicature)
    • The Educational Role of Judicial Conduct Organizations, Martineau, Robert J., 63: 227-231 (Nov. '79, AJS Judicature)
    • Ensuring an impartial judge: Current disqualification issue
      s, No, Author, 92: 18-25 (1, AJS Judicature)
    • Ex Parte Communications: An Issue In judicial Conduct, Lubet, Steven, 74: 96-101 (Aug.-Sep. '90, AJS Judicature)
    • Exploring the issues in private judging (panel discussion), Discussion, Panel, 77: 203-210 (Jan.-Feb. '94, AJS Judicature)
    • Financial disclosure by state supreme court justices (brief), Eckley, Timothy S., 91: 100 (Sep-Oct '07, AJS Judicature)
    • Financing Trial Court Elections: Who Contributes to California Judicial Campaigns?, Dubois, Philip L., 70: 8-16 (Jun.-Jul. '86, AJS Judicature)
    • First issue of Judicial Campaign Oversight Digest (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 91: 42 (Jul-Aug '07, AJS Judicature)
    • Fixing White (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 90: 192,194 (Mar-Apr '07, AJS Judicature)
    • Funding Judicial Campaigns In Illinois, Nicholson, Marlene Arnold and Nicholson, Norman, 77: 294-299 (May-Jun. '94, AJS Judicature)
    • Funding Judicial Campaigns in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Nicholson, Marlene Arnold and Weiss, Bradley Scott, 70: 17-25 (Jun.-Jul. '86, AJS Judicature)
    • Fundraising by Judges: Ethical Restrictions on Assisting Civic, Charitable and Other Organizations, Goldstein, Candice, 70: 27-30 (Jun.-Jul. '86, AJS Judicature)
    • The good news in Republican Party of Minnesota v. White (viewpoint), Gray, Cynthia, 87: 271-272 (May-June '04, AJS Judicature)
    • Helping judges explain the courts (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 80: 56 (Sept.-Oct. '96, AJS Judicature)
    • Independent research on scientific issues by judges must be carefully weighed and considered, Marlow, George D., 90: 66-67 (Sept-Oct '06, AJS Judicature)
    • Interesting and Useful (letter), Torbert, C.C., Jr., 63: 308 (Feb. '80, AJS Judicature)
    • An Introduction to the Issue (introduction), Tesitor, Irene A., 63: 204-205 (Nov. '79, AJS Judicature)
    • Introduction: Taking disqualification seriously, Gray, Cynthia, 92: 9 (1, AJS Judicature)
    • Invigorating judicial disqualification: Ten potential reforms, Sample, James and Young, Michael, 92: 26-33 (1, AJS Judicature)
    • Is It Time for a National Commission on Judicial Independence and Accountability? (query), Burbank, Stephen B., 73: 176-177, 226-227 (Dec.-Jan. '90, AJS Judicature)
    • Judge Accused of 'Impropriety' Resigns in Massachusetts (news), Author, No, 62: 147 (Sep. '78, AJS Judicature)
    • Judge testifies on educational seminars (brief), Richert, David, 85: 161 (Nov.-Dec. '01, AJS Judicature)
    • Judges as scholars: Are they? Should they be? (viewpoint), Noonan, John T., Jr., 84: 7-9, 47 (July-Aug. '00, AJS Judicature)
    • Judges, Critics and the Public Interest: Balancing Competing Values, Author, No, 72: 226-234 (Dec.-Jan. '89, AJS Judicature)
    • Judicial campaign oversight committees' complaint handling in the 2006 elections: Survey and recommendations, Fortune, William and White, Penny J., 91: 232-237 (Mar-Apr '08, AJS Judicature)
    • judicial discipline in 2007 (brief), Gray, Cynthia, 91: 208 (Jan-Feb '08, AJS Judicature)
    • Judicial disqualification after Caperton (editorial), no, author, 93: 4, 35 (1, AJS Judicature)
    • Judicial disqualification: what do judges think?, Goldschmidt, Jona and Shaman, Jeffrey M., 80: 68-72 (Sept.-Oct. '96, AJS Judicature)
    • Judicial Elections: The California Experience, Grodin, Joseph, 70: 365-369 (Apr.-May '87, AJS Judicature)
    • Judicial Independence and Accountability: Walking the Tightrope, Author, No, 66: 207-215 (Nov. '82, AJS Judicature)
    • Judicial Reform in Texas, Champagne, Anthony, 72: 146-159 (Oct.-Nov. '88, AJS Judicature)
    • The Judicial Role in Italy: Independence, Impartiality and Legitimacy, Volcansek, Mary L., 73: 322-327 (Apr.-May '90, AJS Judicature)
    • Judicial settlement ethics (editorial), Editorial, AJS, 81: 48 (Sept.-Oct. '97, AJS Judicature)
    • Justice for ALJs (letter), Jacobson, Barry, 73: 237 (Feb.-Mar. '90, AJS Judicature)
    • Learning, Speaking, And Acting: What Are The Limits For Judges?, Weinstein, Jack B., 77: 322-329 (May-Jun. '94, AJS Judicature)
    • The legacy of Republican Party of Minnesota v. White: Judicial independence, judicial selection, and the First Amendment in the post-White era, Author, No, 91: 135-143 (Nov-Dec '07, AJS Judicature)
    • Legislature Can't Order Judges To Disclose Finances, Court Rules (decision of note), Stiegler, Mayo H., 64: 469 (May '81, AJS Judicature)

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