Reading Room Document

Rules of Conduct for Federal Judges

The document addresses questions regarding the authority of the Supreme Court, Judicial Conference, and Congress to impose a code of conduct and financial disclosure requirements on federal judges. The conclusions reached are that the Judicial Conference and Supreme Court do not have the authority to compel adherence to a code of conduct, while Congress does have the constitutional authority to adopt rules of conduct and enforce financial disclosure requirements for federal judges. The document also discusses the constitutional authority of Congress to establish a procedure, other than impeachment and conviction, for the removal of a federal judge. The questions presented for review include the authority of the Judicial Conference and Supreme Court, as well as the constitutional authorization for the removal of federal judges by means other than impeachment.

June 10, 1969