---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 353"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "353"
heading: "Special committees"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/353"
units:
  - "Part I — Organization of Courts"
  - "Chapter 16 — Complaints Against Judges and Judicial Discipline"
---

# §353. Special committees

- (a) **Appointment.—** If the [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c) does not enter an order under [section 352(b)](/usc/28/352.md?p=b), the [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c) shall promptly—
  - (1) appoint himself or herself and equal numbers of circuit and district [judges](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) of the circuit to a special committee to investigate the facts and allegations contained in the complaint;
  - (2) certify the complaint and any other documents pertaining thereto to each member of such committee; and
  - (3) provide written notice to the [complainant](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-2) and the [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) whose conduct is the subject of the complaint of the action taken under this subsection.
- (b) **Change in Status or Death of Judges.—** A [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) appointed to a special committee under [subsection (a)](#a) may continue to serve on that committee after becoming a senior [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) or, in the case of the [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c) of the circuit, after his or her term as [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c) terminates under subsection (a)(3) or (c) of section 45. If a [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) appointed to a committee under [subsection (a)](#a) dies, or retires from office under [section 371(a)](/usc/28/371.md?p=a), while serving on the committee, the [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c) of the circuit may appoint another circuit or district [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1), as the case may be, to the committee.
- (c) **Investigation by Special Committee.—** Each committee appointed under [subsection (a)](#a) shall conduct an investigation as extensive as it considers necessary, and shall expeditiously file a comprehensive written report thereon with the judicial council of the circuit. Such report shall present both the findings of the investigation and the committee’s recommendations for necessary and appropriate action by the judicial council of the circuit.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11042(a), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1850.)