Federal Judge Resigns From Bench After Arrest

Sometimes the lifetime-guaranteed appointment as a United States District Court Judge isn't.  According to the letter sent to the President, August 1, 2015 was the last day for one federal court jurist who had been arrested and spent a night in jail.... MORE....
The Salon article by Brad Friedman says it all, "America's most heinous judge resigns: Wife-beater Mark Fuller leaves the bench, finally, but not easily"

USA Today, "Federal judge arrested for battery to resign from bench," by Mary Troyan

Wikipedia on Former Judge Mark E. Fuller

The Press Release of the 11th Circuit 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
TEL. 404/335-6535 
56 FORSYTH STREET, NW 
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303

12 August 2014

Announcement Regarding Status of 

District Judge Mark E. Fuller

The recent arrest of Middle District of Alabama Judge Mark E. Fuller in Atlanta, Georgia, on misdemeanor charges is a matter of public record. The case is pending before the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.  Effective immediately, all legal matters filed with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama that are pending before Judge Fuller will be reassigned to other judges in accordance with standard procedures for the assignment of cases. No new legal matters will be assigned to Judge Fuller until further notice. 

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GOODLATTE and CONYERS STATEMENT ON JUDGE FULLER RESIGNATION

Jun 02 2015

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.) issued the following statement on the resignation of Middle District of Alabama Judge Mark Fuller, who was arrested in August 2014 for physically assaulting his wife in a hotel room in Atlanta, Georgia, a violation of state criminal law.

“It is a rare occasion when the U.S. Congress impeaches a federal judge and removes the accused from the bench, but it is a necessary tool to protect the integrity of our judicial system.

“However, the House Judiciary Committee was prepared to initiate impeachment proceedings against Judge Fuller pending the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States, and the Committee strongly encouraged the courts to expedite the investigation into Judge Fuller’s misconduct.

“When it became clear that the 11th Circuit would issue an order that Judge Fuller’s conduct could constitute grounds for impeachment, Judge Fuller decided to resign in shame. Once his resignation becomes effective, he will not qualify for either a judicial salary or be eligible for a judicial pension.  If Judge Fuller does not resign on August 1st, as stated in his resignation letter, the House Judiciary Committee will consider whether impeachment is warranted once the Judicial Conference issues its final report.”

Background: The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the power and responsibility to impeach federal judges and the Senate the power to remove the accused from office after a fair and impartial hearing.

In December 2014, Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers sent a letter to Chief Judge Ed Carnes and Judge Gerald Tjoflat of the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit regarding the status of the investigation of Judge Fuller and the anticipated timeline for completion of the required comprehensive written report to the Circuit’s Judicial Council.

The Judicial Council of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit has now concluded their investigation and issued an order that found Judge Fuller’s conduct ‘might constitute one or more grounds for impeachment under article II of the Constitution.’  This recommendation has been sent to the Judicial Conference of the United States which makes the final recommendation to Congress.

Permalink: http://judiciary.house.gov/index.cfm/2015/6/goodlatte-conyers-statement-on-judge-fuller-resignation