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Ninth Circuit Local Rules for Misconduct Proceedings
The Ninth Circuit Judicial Council adopted the following local rules for misconduct proceedings, effective April 14, 2025:
Local Rule 6.1(a): Name of Subject Judge. You are strongly encouraged to use the judicial misconduct complaint form provided on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals website. Whether you use that form or another form to submit your complaint, you must identify any and all subject judge(s) on the first page of your complaint. If you do not, your complaint will be returned with a request to fix it. Referencing or making allegations against a different judge in the Statement of Facts or on any page other than the first page of your complaint is insufficient to open a complaint against that additional judge.
Local Rule 6.1(b)(1): Page Limit for Complaints. The Statement of Facts must be no longer than five standard 8.5x11 inch, single-sided, double-spaced pages. If typed, the font must be at least 12-point. If the Circuit Executive determines that your complaint cannot be filed as submitted, you will be given an opportunity to fix it.
Local Rule 6.1(b)(2): Supplemental Documents for Complaints. Supplemental exhibits and attachments to your complaint are strongly discouraged. Everything that has been docketed in your underlying case is already available via PACER (the federal filing system). If more information is needed, the Chief Circuit Judge will ask for it. If you submit supplemental documents, they must not exceed five pages, and your Statement of Facts must reference specific page numbers or portions of the supporting documents you believe are relevant to your claims. Allegations made only in exhibits or attachments will not be considered. Once your complaint is filed, you may not submit additional statements or documents except to correct inaccuracies in the original complaint. Anything submitted after your complaint has been filed will not be accepted unless it complies with this rule. Do not submit any original documents, as they may not be returned to you.
Local Rule 6.1(d): Complainant’s Address. Until your complaint is fully concluded, you must notify the Circuit Executive in writing of any address changes. A change of address notice given to any other office or entity is insufficient.
Local Rule 6.1(e): Number of Copies for Complaints. Only the original complaint and any supplemental documents that comply with Local Rule 6.1(b)(2) should be filed. Additional copies are not required and will not be accepted.
Local Rule 8.1(a)(1): Action by Circuit Executive. The Office of the Circuit Executive administers the judicial misconduct and disability complaint program to protect the confidentiality of the process. Therefore, the term “circuit clerk” used by the national rules refers to the Circuit Executive in the context of the misconduct rules. Any judicial misconduct materials sent to the Clerk of Court will be promptly transferred to the Circuit Executive. You must use the following mailing address for all misconduct-related materials:
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Office of the Circuit Executive
P.O. Box 193939
San Francisco, CA 94119-3939
Local Rule 8.1(a)(2): Processing Complaints. If your complaint follows all of these rules, it will be assigned a docket number and processed in due course. The amount of time for processing may depend on the complexity of the case and other administrative factors.
Local Rule 18.1(b)(1): Page Limit for Petitions for Review. A petition for review must be no longer than five standard 8.5x11 inch, single-sided, double-spaced pages. If typed, the font must be at least 12-point. If the Circuit Executive determines that your petition for review cannot be filed as submitted, you will be given an opportunity to fix it.
Local Rule 18.1(b)(2): Supplemental Documents for Petitions for Review. Supplemental exhibits and attachments to the petition for review are not permitted and will not be accepted.
Local Rule 18.1(b)(3): Number of Copies for Petitions for Review. Only the original petition should be filed. Additional copies are not required and will not be accepted.
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