Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal News Blogs -> JURIST - The Paper Chase

Legal News

: JURIST - The Paper Chase

US judges approve new ethics rules

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The US Judicial Conference has published a revised Code of Conduct for federal judges in the country. The revision, published Tuesday, updates the code from its last revision in 1992, and the conference said the changes were intended to simplify and clarify the code by condensing its sections and using plain language. The revised version also newly-defines the "appearance of impropriety," the standard by which judges should recuse themselves from hearing a case, and broadens the definition of what constitutes inappropriate influence on a judge. Changes to the code will take effect on July 1. The conference also asked Congress to create 63 new federal judgeships. The US Judicial Conference is made up of senior circuit and district court judges. It operates under a mandate to monitor federal courts and promulgate rules providing for their fair and efficient operation. What constitutes the appearance of impropriety or bias by a judge is something that has recently gained much attention in both federal and state courts. Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court heard arguments in a case where they will determine whether there is a constitutional basis for the Court to set an "appearance of bias" standard for state courts.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 19, 2009 (boomark / email).