Federal judicial appointments are for life -- "good Behaviour" -- to preserve independence of the judiciary from political pressure and influence. They can't even get a pay cut; it's right in Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution!
The only way to get rid of a bad judge, president, or other federal official is through Impeachment by the Senate, which in our nation's history has been employed only a handful of times:
Impeachments of Federal Officials
Source: Congressional Directory
The procedure for the impeachment of federal officials is detailed in Article I, Section 3, of the Constitution. The Senate has sat as a court of impeachment in the following cases:
William Blount, senator from Tennessee; charges dismissed for want of jurisdiction, Jan. 14, 1799.
John Pickering, judge of the U.S. District Court for New Hampshire; removed from office March 12, 1804.
Samuel Chase, associate justice of the Supreme Court; acquitted March 1, 1805.
James H. Peck, judge of the U.S. District Court for Missouri; acquitted Jan. 31, 1831.
West H. Humphreys, judge of the U.S. District Court for the middle, eastern, and western districts of Tennessee; removed from office June 26, 1862.
Andrew Johnson, president of the United States; acquitted May 26, 1868.
William W. Belknap, secretary of war; acquitted Aug. 1, 1876.
Charles Swayne, judge of the U.S. District Court for the northern district of Florida; acquitted Feb. 27, 1905.
Robert W. Archbald, associate judge, U.S. Commerce Court; removed Jan. 13, 1913.
George W. English, judge of the U.S. District Court for eastern district of Illinois; resigned Nov. 4, 1926; proceedings dismissed.
Harold Louderback, judge of the U.S. District Court for the northern district of California; acquitted May 24, 1933.
Halsted L. Ritter, judge of the U.S. District Court for the southern district of Florida; removed from office April 17, 1936.
Harry E. Claiborne, judge of the U.S. District Court for the district of Nevada; removed from office Oct. 9, 1986.
Alcee L. Hastings, judge of the U.S. District Court for the southern district of Florida; removed from office Oct. 20, 1988.
Walter L. Nixon, judge of the U.S. District Court for Mississippi; removed from office Nov. 3, 1989.
William J. Clinton, president of the United States; acquitted Feb. 12, 1999. |
