Federal judges can be impeached.
True
False
The correct answer and explanation is:
Answer: True
Federal judges in the United States can indeed be impeached. According to the U.S. Constitution, specifically Article II, Section 4, federal judges, along with the President and Vice President, can be removed from office if they are impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted by the Senate. Impeachment is a process that serves as a check on the judiciary to ensure that judges remain impartial and act within the bounds of the law.
The process begins when the House of Representatives files articles of impeachment, which can be initiated based on charges like treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. If the House approves the articles of impeachment by a simple majority vote, the case moves to the Senate for a trial. The Chief Justice of the United States presides over the trial in the Senate. To convict the judge and remove them from office, a two-thirds majority vote is required in the Senate.
While impeachment is a rare occurrence for federal judges, it has happened in U.S. history. For example, in 1804, Judge John Pickering of the District Court was impeached and removed from office for drunkenness and misconduct in office. In 1989, Judge Alcee Hastings was impeached and removed for bribery and perjury, though he later went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Impeachment is considered a necessary safeguard to maintain the integrity of the judiciary. However, it is not a process that is undertaken lightly. Only in cases of serious misconduct or failure to perform judicial duties appropriately is impeachment pursued. The high bar of requiring both the House and the Senate to take action ensures that impeachment remains a last resort.