FILED
JUDICIAL COUNCIL
OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT
IN RE COMPLAINT OF

No. 17-90118

JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT

ORDER

DEC 14 2017
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

THOMAS, Chief Judge:
Under the Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability Proceedings,
when there is information constituting reasonable grounds for inquiry into whether
a covered judge has engaged in judicial misconduct, the chief judge may conduct
an inquiry into the accuracy of the information even if no related complaint has
been filed. In the past, when incidents of alleged misconduct have been reported
in an accredited media publication, we have identified a complaint and initiated an
inquiry.
Therefore, consistent with our past practice, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
351(b) and Rule 5 of the Rules for Judicial Conduct and Judicial Disability
Proceedings, and in the interest of the effective and expeditious administration of
the business of the courts, a complaint is hereby identified against Circuit Judge
Alex Kozinski. This complaint is based on allegations contained in a December 8,
2017, Washington Post article entitled “Prominent 9th Circuit Judge Accused of
Sexual Misconduct” and any other related articles.

 page 2
To ensure confidence in the impartiality of any proceedings, and
exceptional circumstances appearing, pursuant to Judicial Conduct Rule 26, I
request that the Chief Justice of the United States transfer this complaint to the
judicial council of another circuit for review and disposition. Any new complaints
that may be filed relating to this matter are included in this request for transfer.
Pursuant to Judicial Conduct Rule 23(a), this order is publicly disclosed in
order to “maintain public confidence in the Judiciary’s ability to redress
misconduct or disability.” All subsequent proceedings are subject to the usual
confidentiality rules.