Impeaching a Judge

1. First, the U.S. Judicial Conference, the administrative arm of the federal courts, recommends that Congress begin an impeachment inquiry.  Such inquiry is usually conducted by the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights.

2. After examinining the case, the subcommittee votes on an impeachment resolution.  If approved, the matter is then considered by the full House Judiciary Committee.

3. If the House Judiciary Committee concurs with the subcommittee's recommendation, the full House of Representatives then votes on whether to impeach the judge.  In effect, the House serves as a grand jury, deciding whether to prosecute the case before the Senate.

4. If the House votes to recommend impeachment, it then selects members to conduct the impeachment hearing.  A 12-member panel of senators usually hears the case first and then presents a summary to the full Senate.

5. To remove a judge from office, the Senate must approve the removal resolution by a two-thirds vote.

1. Bruce Alpert and Susan Finch, "Congress Won't Rush To Impeach," The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, June 30, 1991, National, p. 1.