I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2898 
To amend title 28, United States Code, to establish standards for 
impeachment of justices and judges of the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 28, 2007 
Mr. AKIN (for himself, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. 
GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. WILSON of South Caro-
lina, Mr. POE, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 
PITTS, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. KINGSTON, 
Mr. NEUGEBAUER, and Mrs. DRAKE) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 28, United States Code, to establish stand-
ards for impeachment of justices and judges of the 
United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Judicial Conduct Act 
of 2007’’. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:08 Jul 13, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2898.IH
H2898
ccoleman on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
SEC. 2. STANDARDS FOR IMPEACHMENT OF JUSTICES AND 
JUDGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 16 of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 365. Standards for impeachment 
‘‘(a) CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS.— 
‘‘(1) ARTICLE
II, SECTION
4.—A justice or 
judge of the United States shall be removed from of-
fice on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, 
bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, as 
provided in Article II, section 4 of the United States 
Constitution. 
‘‘(2) ARTICLE
III, SECTION
1.—A justice or 
judge of the United States shall hold the office dur-
ing good behavior as provided in Article III, section 
1 of the United States Constitution. A justice or 
judge failing to act during good behavior shall be re-
moved from office. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘treason’ means levying war 
against the United States or in adhering to its en-
emies, giving them aid and comfort. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘bribery’ means offering, giving, 
receiving, or soliciting something of value for the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:08 Jul 13, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2898.IH
H2898
ccoleman on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
purpose of influencing the action of an official in the 
discharge of his or her public or legal duties. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘other high crimes and mis-
demeanors’ means, with respect to a justice or 
judge, any act of misbehavior or misconduct by such 
justice or judge, which evidences an unfitness for the 
bench, including, but not limited to, the following: 
‘‘(A) Any criminal offense punishable by 
death or imprisonment for a term exceeding one 
year. 
‘‘(B) Usurpation of power, including the 
entering or enforcement of orders or decisions 
based on powers reserved to the Congress under 
Article I of the United States Constitution. 
‘‘(C) Unblushing or notorious partiality or 
favoritism. 
‘‘(D) Disgraceful or indecent behavior. 
‘‘(E) Using the office for personal ends. 
‘‘(F) Entering or enforcement of orders or 
decisions beyond the jurisdiction of the court in 
which the justice or judge serves. 
‘‘(G) Entering or enforcement of orders or 
decisions based on judgments, laws, agree-
ments, or pronouncements of foreign institu-
tions, governments, or multilateral organiza-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:08 Jul 13, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2898.IH
H2898
ccoleman on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
tions, other than orders or decisions based on 
the common law of the United Kingdom. 
‘‘(H) Entering or enforcement of orders or 
decisions that conflict with or are inconsistent 
with the text of the United States Constitution. 
‘‘(I) Entering or enforcement of orders or 
decisions based on precedent from previous 
Federal court decisions that conflict with or are 
inconsistent with the text of the United States 
Constitution. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘failing to act during good be-
havior’ includes committing an act of treason, brib-
ery, or any of the other high crimes and mis-
demeanors. 
‘‘(5) The term ‘multilateral organization’ means 
an international institution of which the govern-
ments of countries are members, including, but not 
limited to, the International Bank for Reconstruc-
tion and Development, the International Monetary 
Fund, the United Nations and its agencies, the Or-
ganization for Economic Cooperation and Develop-
ment, and the European Union. 
‘‘(c) PRECEDENCE PRESERVED.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to limit or replace a basis for 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:08 Jul 13, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2898.IH
H2898
ccoleman on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
impeachment accepted before the enactment of this sec-
tion.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 16 of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘365. Standards for impeachment.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:08 Jul 13, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2898.IH
H2898
ccoleman on PROD1PC69 with BILLS