Rules About Judicial Complaints

You must follow both the General and Local Rules if you want to file a judicial misconduct complaint.

General rules describe the process for these complaints in all federal courts.

Local rules provide specific instructions for complaints about federal judges in the Ninth Circuit.

FAQs

Please click on the below link for additional information about who and what you can complaint about.

Read Additional FAQs

Ninth Circuit Local Rules for Judicial Misconduct Complaints

The Ninth Circuit has adopted local rules for handling complaints about judicial misconduct. If you're thinking about filing a complaint, please read the Local Rules (PDF) and the guidance given below carefully.

Naming the judge

When you file a complaint, you must clearly name every judge you're complaining about on the first page.

Use the official Ninth Circuit Complaint Form (PDF).
If you don’t list the name of the judge(s) on the first page, your complaint will be returned for you to fix.
Mentioning a judge on any other page is not enough to open a complaint against that judge.

Page limit

Your statement of facts must be no longer than five pages, single-sided and double-spaced.
Use at least 12-point font if typed.

Supplements and Attachments

You should cite docket numbers and pages when possible, but do not attach documents that are available on PACER or CM/ECF.
You may not add new claims after your complaint is open, so be careful to include all your allegations and proof in your original complaint.
Only allegations in the complaint and statement of facts will be reviewed. Arguments in supplements or attachments will not be considered.
Piecemeal submissions are not allowed. Once you have filed a complaint against a judge, please do not submit a new complaint or attempt to supplement your pending complaint with updates regarding the litigation or new decisions by the judge.

Send only one copy

Send the original complaint; don’t send extra copies.
If you send any original copies of documents or records, those documents or records may not be returned to you or may be destroyed if the complaint is rejected or closed. Send copies to avoid losing your original documents or records.

Keep your address updated

If your address changes while your complaint is being reviewed, you must tell the Circuit Executive in writing by sending a letter to provide notice of your address change.
Telling another office (like the court clerk) is not enough.

MAIL misconduct complaints to:

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Office of the Circuit Executive
Attn: Judicial Misconduct
P.O. Box 193939
San Francisco, CA 94119-3939

What happens after you file

If your complaint follows all the rules, you will be notified of your case number, and the complaint will be reviewed and an order resolving your complaint will be mailed to you. The complexity of your complaint and other administrative factors impact how long this review takes.
If your complaint doesn’t follow the rules, it will be rejected and sent back to you with instructions about how to fix it.

Need Help?

Before making an inquiry, please review this website and the guidelines carefully. Most questions are answered here.

If you have questions about the judicial misconduct process, you must send them in writing to the address given below. The court does not answer questions by phone or email.

Mailing Address: