While contempt of Congress is serious enough, it was the obstruction of the congressional investigation that's a felony. I thought at the time that such a clearly criminal case as Judge Greer's outrageous behavior would have been prosecuted, but it appears that our judiciary can ignore just about any laws, even to the extent of personally indulging in blatantly criminal behavior.
I find it interesting just how few judges have even been impeached over the last few years compared to the early years of the republic. From the Federal Judicial Center's webpage at http://air.fjc.gov/history/topics/topics_ji_bdy.html :
[ Main page | Judges | Courts | Legislation | Topics | Courthouses | Amistad | Publications | Links | Contact ]
Impeachments of Federal Judges
John Pickering, U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 2, 1803, on charges of mental instability and intoxication on the bench; Trial in the U.S. Senate, March 3, 1803, to March 12, 1803; Convicted and removed from office on March 12, 1803.
Samuel Chase, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 12, 1804, on charges of arbitrary and oppressive conduct of trials; Trial in the U.S. Senate, November 30, 1804, to March 1, 1805; Acquitted on March 1, 1805.
James H. Peck, U.S. District Court for the District of Missouri.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 24, 1830, on charges of abuse of the contempt power; Trial in the U.S. Senate, April 26, 1830, to January 31, 1831; Acquitted on January 31, 1831.
West H. Humphreys, U.S. District Court for the Middle, Eastern, and Western Districts of Tennessee.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, May 6, 1862, on charges of refusing to hold court and waging war against the U.S. government; Trial in the U.S. Senate, May 7, 1862, to June 26, 1862; Convicted and removed from office, June 26, 1862.
Mark H. Delahay, U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, February 28, 1873, on charges of intoxication on the bench; Resigned from office, December 12, 1873, before opening of trial in the U.S. Senate.
Charles Swayne, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, December 13, 1904, on charges of abuse of contempt power and other misuses of office; Trial in the U.S. Senate, December 14, 1904, to February 27, 1905; Acquitted February 27, 1905.
Robert W. Archbald, U.S. Commerce Court.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, July 11, 1912, on charges of improper business relationship with litigants; Trial in the U.S. Senate, July 13, 1912, to January 13, 1913; Convicted and removed from office, January 13, 1913.
George W. English, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, April 1, 1926, on charges of abuse of power; resigned office November 4, 1926; Senate Court of Impeachment adjourned to December 13, 1926, when, on request of the House manager, impeachment proceedings were dismissed.
Harold Louderback, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, February 24, 1933, on charges of favoritism in the appointment of bankruptcy receivers; Trial in the U.S. Senate, May 15, 1933, to May 24, 1933; Acquitted, May 24, 1933.
Halsted L. Ritter, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, March 2, 1936, on charges of favoritism in the appointment of bankruptcy receivers and practicing law while sitting as a judge; Trial in the U.S. Senate, April 6, 1936, to April 17, 1936; Convicted and removed from office, April 17, 1936.
Harry E. Claiborne, U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, October 9, 1986, on charges of income tax evasion and of remaining on the bench following criminal conviction; Trial in the U.S. Senate, October 7, 1986, to October 9, 1986; Convicted and removed from office, October 9, 1986.
Alcee L. Hastings, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, August 3, 1988, on charges of perjury and conspiring to solicit a bribe; Trial in the U.S. Senate, October 18, 1989, to October 20, 1989; Convicted and removed from office, October 20, 1989.
Walter L. Nixon, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives, May 10, 1989, on charges of perjury before a federal grand jury; Trial in the U.S. Senate, November 1, 1989, to November 3, 1989; Convicted and removed from office, November 3, 1989.
