Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Judicial ethics refers to the rules and standards that judges must follow to maintain their independence, impartiality, and avoid any improper behavior. Each state has a judicial commission responsible for dealing with complaints of judicial misconduct. If a complaint passes the screening and deposition phases, it is investigated and a trial-like hearing is instituted. The commission has the power to sanction a judge and require them to retire or resign. Some commissions can even make a finding of criminal guilt punishable as a felony. Commission findings are appealable to state courts.
Judicial ethics refers to the standards and norms that judges must follow to maintain their independence, impartiality, and avoid any improper behavior. It is a part of legal ethics, which deals with ethical issues in the legal profession.
Each state has established a judicial commission to deal with complaints of judicial misconduct. These commissions investigate complaints and hold trial-like hearings to determine if a judge has violated the rules of conduct. If found guilty, the commission can sanction the judge, require them to retire or resign, or even make a finding of criminal guilt punishable as a felony under state or federal law.
For example, if a judge accepts a bribe or shows favoritism towards a particular party in a case, they would be violating judicial ethics. The judicial commission would investigate the complaint and hold a hearing to determine if the judge should be sanctioned or removed from their position.