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If you think the judge in your court case is guilty of misconduct, report it to the state or federal board that oversees judges' conduct. The following explains the steps you'll need to take.
It is important to remember, however, that even if your complaint results in the judge's being disciplined, it will not affect the outcome of your lawsuit. To have a specific decision changed or reversed, you must take your case to a court of appeals. Judicial conduct organizations are set up only to ensure that judges are competent and fair, not to overturn decisions, however unfair.
The Judicial Councils Reform and Judicial Conduct and Disabilities Act of 1980 (Section 372 of Title 28 of the United States Code) says it is "conduct prejudicial to the effective expeditious administration of the business of the courts." Courts have interpreted this to include fraudulent, corrupt, immoral, illegal and dishonest behavior and any physical or mental incapacity to carry out judicial duties.
This means a judge who repeatedly commits wrongful acts knowing that they violate a rule of law or standard of behavior can be disciplined. For example, a judge who makes repeated racial slurs against litigants can be found guilty of misconduct. A judge found to have a serious mental or physical handicap that interferes in the performance of judicial duties is usually asked to retire or removed from office. However, if you think the judge has made a mistake during your trial or decided your case wrong, you probably won't succeed in getting the judge investigated for misconduct unless you can prove malice or a repeated pattern of bias or incompetence.
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