Judicial EthicsThe impartial administration of justice in one of the cornerstones of the American judicial system. It is crucial that a judge act fairly and impartially while avoiding any appearance of impropriety. Every state has adopted a code of judicial conduct that sets ethical guidelines for judges. All states also have judicial conduct commissions with the power to investigate, prosecute, and decide cases of judicial misconduct. There is also a code of conduct for federal judges. Ethical Guidelines A judge is required to remove (recuse) himself or herself from presiding over a case if he or she has any financial interest in the case. A judge also is required to disqualify himself or herself from a case when there is a perception that the judge cannot be fair and impartial. Under ethical guidelines, a judge should not hold an office in a political organization, make speeches for a political organization or candidate, or publicly endorse or oppose a candidate. Sanctions For Judicial Misconduct Copyright 2013 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. |