Offering common sense solutions for judicial discipline
How to file a complaint of judicial misconduct
Step 1: Test your motives
(This text from Step 1 of "You be the Judge!")
Before filing a complaint, you need to make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Human nature being what it is, it's easy to complain for the wrong ones. Also, you need to know the limitations of the complaint process. You don't want to disqualify yourself before the race begins or waste time asking for something you can't have, right? Now, let's start our journey by reviewing some history about complaining.
Ever since Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, people have grumbled against their leaders. The dictionary definition of grumble is "to mutter or mumble in discontent." It has a negative connotation because grumbling is unjustified.
For example, as a child you might have grumbled against your parents if you complained because they wouldn't let you drive until you were sixteen or wouldn't let you stay up (or out) all night. But they knew better and were looking out for your best interest. Your complaint was unjustified, although you probably didn't see it that way at the time. (You now know as a parent that complaints like this fall on deaf ears.) Grumbling like this is sin and is wrong. God killed a lot of Israelites for grumbling.
But it's not grumbling and not sin if you're challenging a leader who's doing wrong. Complaining here is not driven by discontent but rather by love: Love for justice, love for the law. Perhaps you're outraged and want an evildoer held accountable. That's fine. Contrary as it may sound, love often manifests itself as righteous indignation or wrath.
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