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Simple English definitions for legal terms
judicial ethics
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A quick definition of judicial ethics:
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.
A more thorough explanation:
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.