Who has the authority to impeach federal judges?

The authority to impeach federal judges resides with the House of Representatives. Impeachment is a process outlined in the U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article I, which grants the House the exclusive power to initiate impeachment proceedings. This involves the House investigating allegations against federal officials, including judges, and if they determine there is sufficient evidence, they can vote to impeach, essentially charging the judge with misconduct.

Once the House has impeached a federal judge, the process moves to the Senate, which holds the trial and ultimately decides whether to convict and remove the judge from office. This division of responsibility ensures checks and balances within the government, preventing any single entity from having unchecked power in matters of impeachment. Therefore, while the Senate plays a crucial role in the trial and potential removal, the initial authority to impeach lies solely with the House of Representatives.