Judicial Councils Reform and Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980

The Judicial Councils Reform and Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980,, , also known as the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980, is a United States federal law concerning misconduct and disability on the part of article III judges. It was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on October 15, 1980. Congress enacted this statute to facilitate the discipline of judges for misconduct or disability that does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense. The statute allows an individual to file a complaint against a federal judge if they believe that the judge has engaged in conduct "prejudicial to the effective and expeditious administration of the business of the courts", or that the judge's mental faculties have declined such that they are now "unable to discharge all the duties" required of their office. The Act delegates primary responsibility for adjudicating complaints to the judicial councils of the United States courts of appeals, beginning with the submission of a complaint to the clerk for the corresponding circuit court of appeals. It does not apply to the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.