Burger Panel Faults Acts by Claiborne
Chief Justice Warren E. Burger reported to the House on Wednesday that the governing body for the U.S. courts believes there may be grounds to impeach imprisoned federal Judge Harry E. Claiborne.
It was the first such action taken by the Judicial Conference under a 1980 law that officially gave the federal judiciary power to police itself. The conference is composed of 26 judges and headed by Burger.
Claiborne, 68, is chief U.S. district judge for Nevada. Convicted of underpaying his income tax, he is serving a two-year sentence but continues to collect the $78,700 salary that goes with his lifetime appointment.
The House Judiciary Committee last week unanimously adopted articles of impeachment against Claiborne. Approval by the full House would send the case to the Senate for the first impeachment trial since 1936.
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