Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
In this module, you will learn about the roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes of judges. This module explores the various ways federal and state judges get their jobs, what it means to be fair and impartial, and the legal principles, ethical codes, traditions, and guidelines that constrain judicial decision-making.
This video was produced by the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School as part of “Civics Break,” a learning series focused on courts and the judiciary. Learn more at https://judicialstudies.duke.edu/civics-break
*CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS*
* Becoming a Judge: Impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate are separate steps. Fifteen federal judges have been impeached by the House in U.S. history; eight were convicted by the Senate.
* The Code of Conduct: The Judicial Conference of the United States is presided over by the Chief Justice and includes the chief judge of each judicial circuit, the Chief Judge of the Court of International Trade, and a district judge from each regional judicial circuit.
In this module, you will learn about the roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes of judges. This module explores the various ways federal and state judges get their jobs, what it means to be fair and impartial, and the legal principles, ethical codes, traditions, and guidelines that constrain judicial decision-making.
This video was produced by the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School as part of “Civics Break,” a learning series focused on courts and the judiciary. Learn more at https://judicialstudies.duke.edu/civics-break
*CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS*
* Becoming a Judge: Impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate are separate steps. Fifteen federal judges have been impeached by the House in U.S. history; eight were convicted by the Senate.
* The Code of Conduct: The Judicial Conference of the United States is presided over by the Chief Justice and includes the chief judge of each judicial circuit, the Chief Judge of the Court of International Trade, and a district judge from each regional judicial circuit.
