How can a federal judge be removed from office in the United States?

In the United States, a federal judge can be removed from office through the process of impeachment and subsequent conviction.1

The procedure involves two primary steps:

• Impeachment by the House of Representatives: The House of Representatives must first adopt articles of impeachment, which serve as the formal charges against the judge.21
• Trial and Conviction by the Senate: The process then moves to the U.S. Senate, which holds the sole power to try the case. During the trial, representatives from the House act as prosecutors, and the judge may present a defense. If two-thirds of the senators present find the judge guilty of the charges, the judge is removed from office.2

This process is considered cumbersome and is used only in cases of serious misconduct, such as abuse of office or criminal behavior. Once a judge is convicted by the Senate, the removal is final and cannot be appealed. In some instances, judges may also resign before the completion of the impeachment process.123