Roberts is correct. Impeachment is not for political

Posted on: March 18, 2025 at 12:02:14 CT

disagreements... it is for 'high crimes and misdemeanors'

His comment is spot on:
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that reason.”

Since the founding of the nation, only 15 federal judges have been impeached (8 were convicted by the Senate, 4 were acquitted by the Senate, and 3 resigned before an outcome at trial):

1803: John Pickering of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
Charges: Mental instability and intoxication on the bench
Convicted: By the United States Senate and removed from office on March 12, 1804.

1804: Samuel Chase of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Charges: Arbitrary and oppressive conduct of trials
Acquitted: By the United States Senate on March 1, 1805.

1830: James Hawkins Peck of the United States District Court for the District of Missouri.
Charges: Abuse of the contempt of power
Acquitted: By the Senate on January 1, 1831.

1862: West Hughes Humphreys of the United States District Courts for the Middle, Eastern, and Western Districts of Tennessee.
Charges: Refusing to hold court and waging war against the United States government
Convicted: By the Senate and removed from office on June 26, 1862.

1873: Mark W. Delahay for the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.
Charges: Intoxication on the bench
Resigned: From office December 12, 1873, before a trial in the Senate.

1904: Charles Swayne for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
Charges: Abuse of contempt power and other misuses of office
Acquitted: By the Senate on February 27, 1905.

1912: Robert Wodrow Archbald of the United States Commerce Court.
Charges: Improper business relationship with litigants
Convicted: By the Senate and removed from office on January 13, 1913.

1926: George Washington English of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois.
Charges: Abuse of power
Resigned: From office November 4, 1926, at which time impeachment proceedings were dismissed.

1933: Harold Louderback of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Charges: Favoritism in the appointment of bankruptcy receivers
Acquitted: By the Senate on May 24, 1933.

1936: Halsted Lockwood Ritter of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Charges: Favoritism in the appointment of bankruptcy receivers and practicing law while sitting as a judge
Convicted: By the Senate and removed from office on April 17, 1936.

1986: Harry Claiborne of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.
Charges: Income tax evasion and remaining on the bench following a criminal conviction
Convicted: By the Senate and removed from office on October 9, 1986.

1988: Alcee Hastings of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Charges: Perjury and conspiring to solicit a bribe
Convicted: By the Senate and removed from office on October 20, 1989.

1989: Walter Nixon of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Charges: Perjury before a federal grand jury
Convicted: By the Senate and removed from office on November 3, 1989.

2009: Samuel Kent of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Charges: Sexual assault, obstructing and impeding an official proceeding, and making false and misleading statements.
Resigned: From office on July 30, 2009, and articles of impeachment were dismissed.

2010: Thomas Porteous of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Charges: Accepting bribes and making false statements under penalty of perjury
Convicted: By the Senate and removed from office on December 8, 2010.