Judicial Misconduct and Disability

Congress has created a procedure that permits any person to file a complaint in the courts about the behavior of federal judges-but not about the decisions federal judges make in deciding cases. Below is a link to the rules that explain what may be complained about, who may be complained about, where to file a complaint, and how the complaint will be processed. A copy of the form you must use is included at the end of the rules.

Almost all complaints in recent years have been dismissed because they do not follow the law about such complaints. The law says that complaints about judges' decisions and complaints with no evidence to support them must be dismissed. If you are a litigant in a case and believe the judge made a wrong decision-even a very wrong decision-you may not use this procedure to complain about the decision. An attorney can explain the rights you have as a litigant to seek review of a judicial decision.

• Rules of the Judicial Council of the Fourth Circuit Governing Complaints of Judicial Misconduct and Disability (with attached judicial complaint form)