This document discusses the requirements to become a judge, methods for evaluating judicial quality, and processes for removing inadequate judges or improving sitting judges. To become a federal judge there are no formal requirements, while some states require judges to be lawyers and practice for a certain period. Good judges are evaluated based on competence, commitment, impartiality and judicial temperament. Inadequate federal judges can be impeached, and states have various methods like mandatory retirement, impeachment, or judicial conduct commissions. Sitting judges can be improved through orientation, continuing education, and warnings.

1. Judicial Process
Judges and Judicial
Performance

2. Requirements to Become a
Judge
 Formal Requirements
 Federal
 None
 State
 Some require judges be lawyers
 Practiced law for a certain period of time
 Minimum ages
 Maximum ages
 Informal Requirements
 Political Qualifications
 Self-selection
 Luck

3. Quality of Judges
 What makes a good judge?
 Criteria:
 Competence
 Commitment
 Judicial Temperament
 Impartiality
 Methods for Enhancing Quality
 Select Qualified Judges
 Remove Inadequate Judges
 Improve Sitting Judges

4. Removing Inadequate Judges
 Federal
 Article III – “during good behavior”
 Impeachment
 Treason
 Bribery
 High Crimes and Misdemeanors
 How many federal judges have been impeached since
1789?
 13, of which 7 were removed
 Judicial Councils Reform Act and Judicial Conduct and
Disability Act
 Establishes a procedure to lobby a complaint about a judge

5. Removing Inadequate Judges
 Procedure:
 Aggrieved party files a complaint
 Chief judge reviews the charge
 Investigation
 Report to the Council
 Possible punishments
 Exonerated
 Removed
 Public or private reprimand
 Request resignation
 Notify the House of Representative to begin
impeachment proceedings

6. Removing Inadequate Judges
 State Judges
 Mandatory retirement
 Impeachment
 Recall elections
 Concurrent resolutions to dismiss
 State Judicial Commissions

7. Improve Sitting Judges
 Orientation programs
 Continuing education/training
 Warnings from state conduct commissions

8. Main Points
 Judges at all levels perform similar types
of work and possess similar types of
background characteristics
 The way that judges approach their jobs
and the quality of judges varies a great
deal