Ethics for Judges

What happens if a judge engages in improper conduct?

Every judge at every level of the Pennsylvania courts system is governed by the Pennsylvania Constitution 
and specific ethical rules. For Common Pleas court judges, Philadelphia Municipal Court judges and 
members of the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts, these rules are embodied in the Code of 
Judicial Conduct. A similar code, the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct for Magisterial District judges, 
applies to lower court jurists, the magisterial district judges and the Philadelphia Traffic Court judges.

Under both the Constitution and these rules, judges are expected to act at all times in a manner that 
fosters public confidence in the integrity and independence of the judiciary. Judges must avoid all forms of 
improper behavior or even the appearance of impropriety. They must carry out their duties impartially and 
diligently. They must refrain from inappropriate political activity. And they must avoid conflicts of interest.

Misconduct complaints are filed with the Judicial Conduct Board, an independent panel whose 12 members 
are appointed half by the governor and half by the Supreme Court. This board and its staff investigate each 
complaint. If a judge is found to have engaged in questionable behavior or committed an isolated act of 
misconduct, the Judicial Conduct Board may issue a letter of caution or a private reprimand to that judge.

If there is clear and convincing evidence of serious misconduct, the Judicial Conduct Board may prosecute 
the judge in question before the Court of Judicial Discipline, an eight-member independent panel whose 
members also are appointed half by the governor and half by the Supreme Court. While proceedings 
before the Judicial Conduct Board are confidential, proceedings before the Court of Judicial Discipline 
are open to the public. If the court upholds misconduct charges against a judge, it can issue a reprimand, 
impose a suspension with or without pay, or remove the judge from office. The Court of Judicial Discipline 
can also bar a judge from every holding judicial office again. The court’s decisions can be appealed, but 
only on a limited basis, to the Supreme Court. More information about ethical rules for judges and the 
disciplinary process is available on the websites of the Judicial Conduct Board, www.jcbpa.org, and the 
Court of Judicial Discipline, www.cjdpa.org.

Revised November 2012