Adobe File
Download
Rules
Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings

Pending matters will continue to be governed by the rules in effect at the time the complaint was filed.

                                                                                                Adopted March 11, 2008

                                                                                                Effective April 10, 2008

                                                                                                Amended March 12, 2019

Comments are invited on proposed revisions to the Local Rules for Judicial Conduct and Disability Proceedings. Comments will be accepted between February 26 and March 31, 2025. The amended JC&D Local Rules will take effect April 14, 2025, subject to revision in light of any comments received on or before March 31, 2025. Click here to see what is being proposed.
 

Local Rules for Misconduct Proceedings


The Ninth Circuit Judicial Council adopted the following local rules for misconduct proceedings:

Local Rule 6.1(a): Name of Subject Judge. Complainant must either use the form appended to the local rules, or shall identify any and all subject judge(s) on the first page of the complaint. If complainant fails to so identify the subject judge(s), the complaint will be returned to complainant with a request to do so.

Local Rule 6.1(b): Page Limit. The statement of facts must not be longer than five pages (five sides), or 1,200 words, whichever is less. The complaint must be submitted on standard 8.5x11 size paper. A complainant may petition the Chief Judge for permission to submit additional pages if extraordinary circumstances exist, and the Chief Judge may delegate the consideration of these requests to the Circuit Executive.

Local Rule 6.1(d): Acknowledgment. The complaint must include the following written acknowledgment: "I understand that even if I successfully prove that the judge engaged in misconduct or is disabled, this procedure cannot change the outcome of the underlying case." Complainant may either write this acknowledgment in the space provided in Section 6 of the complaint form, or complainant must write out the acknowledgment on the first page of the complaint. If complainant fails to write out the acknowledgment, the complaint will be returned to complainant with a request to do so.

Local Rule 6.1(e): Number of Copies.The complainant must file an original and one copy of (1) the complaint form, (2) the statement of facts, and (3) any documents submitted.

Local Rule 18.1(b): Page Limit and Number of Copies:A petition for review must not be longer than five pages (five sides), or 1,200 words, whichever is less. A complainant may petition the Chief Judge for permission to submit additional pages if extraordinary circumstances exist, and the Chief Judge may delegate the consideration of these requests to the Circuit Executive. The complainant must file an original and one copy of the petition for review, along with a copy of the original complaint.

Back to Top