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Center for Judicial Ethics

The Center for Judicial Ethics is a clearinghouse for information about judicial ethics and discipline.

The CJE provides research support for the conduct commissions that investigate complaints of judicial misconduct, publishes educational materials for judges, and tracks opinions issued by ethics advisory committees. The CJE publishes the Judicial Conduct Reporter and other resources on judicial ethics, including a blog with new posts every Tuesday and Throwback Thursdays. Each year, the CJE responds to hundreds of requests for information from judges, court systems, reporters, and others. Every two years, the CJE presents the National College on Judicial Conduct and Ethics. As a private organization, the CJE does not have the authority to discipline or investigate judges.

Click here to browse our offerings:

Most Requested CJE Resources

Judicial Branch Workplace Sexual Harassment & Discrimination Training

When confidentiality ceases in judicial discipline proceedings

Composition of state judicial conduct commissions

Available sanctions in judicial discipline proceedings

Social media and judicial ethics: Part 1

Social media and judicial ethics: Part 2

Social media and judicial ethics update
Updated January 2023

Judicial disqualification based on campaign contributions
Updated November 2016

Case-law following Republican Party of Minnesota v. White
Updated July 2018 

Self-represented litigants and the code of judicial conduct Up-dated May 2019

Interim Suspension Provisions

Other Resources

Constructive Criticism by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 58, issue 4

So You're Going to be a Judge: Ethical Issues for New Judges by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 52, issue 2

Access, Flexibility, and Patience by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 58, issue 2

Sober as a Judge by Cynthia Gray, Judicature, Volume 106, issue 1

Resisting Ex Parte Temptation by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 57, issue 4

Nexuses and Tangents by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 57, issue 2

Ethical Judicial Culture by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 56, issues 3-4

Relationship Advice by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 56, issue 2

Helping Judges Look Before They Leap: Judicial Ethics Advisory Committees by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 54, issue 4

Appropriate Action by Cynthia Gray, Court Review, Volume 54, issue 2

Links to Other Organizations

State judicial conduct organizations

Judicial ethics advisory committees

American Bar Association Model Code of Judicial Conduct

United States Courts Ethics Policies

United States Courts Judicial Conduct & Disability

United Nations Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct