H.3. Standing for Ethical and Professional Complaints

Congress shall establish a Judicial Disciplinary Code. Once enacted, neither the Legislative Branch nor the Executive Branch shall have the authority to interfere with the provisions of the Code through executive discretion or procedural override. Congress may alter the provisions of the Code, but no such provision shall take effect until the end of the second Judicial Year following the adoption of the alterations into law.

Allegations of ethical or professional misconduct by any federal judge may be submitted to the Federal Licensing Authority (FLA) as provided in this Charter. The FLA shall review and refer such complaints in accordance with the Judicial Disciplinary Code.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint a tribunal of judges of equal rank to the accused, drawn from other jurisdictions. The tribunal must be confirmed by the FLA and shall follow the procedures, burdens of proof, and timelines outlined in the Judicial Disciplinary Code.

Sanctions available to the tribunal include censure or removal for cause. Removal requires a two-thirds vote of the tribunal. Repeated censure shall result in automatic removal.

A process-based appeal may be made to the Chief Justice, who must rule within thirty (30) days and in writing.

Any judge or justice who permanently loses legal eligibility to serve—due to disbarment, felony conviction, or loss of licensing—shall be removed automatically. Such removal is deemed for cause.

Justices of the Supreme Court may only be removed by impeachment, as elsewhere provided in this Charter. However, qualifying complaints against them shall be reviewed by the FLA and referred under the Judicial Disciplinary Code for initial screening.