A conservative group called the Article III Project A3P, led by lawyer Mike Davis, has filed a complaint against a federal judge in North Carolina, James Wynn Jr., accusing him of political misconduct.
Wynn had previously announced his decision to retire, but last week he changed his mind and decided to stay on the bench. This reversal came after news that a nominee for his replacement, Ryan Park, withdrew because he didn’t have enough support in the Senate.
A3P argues that Wynn’s decision to rescind his retirement was politically motivated and undermines public trust in the judicial system.
The group claims that Wynn’s actions violate ethical standards for judges, which prohibit them from engaging in political activities. A3P says that his decision to stay after the presidential election shows bias based on political outcomes, which goes against the judicial code that calls for impartiality and integrity.
Wynn, who was appointed by President Obama in 2009, is not the only judge who recently changed their retirement plans. Judges Max Cogburn and Algenon Marbley also reversed their senior status decisions after the 2024 election, though these cases are different as no replacement nominations had been made.
A3P points out that no federal appellate judge has ever rescinded a retirement decision after a presidential election before.
The group argues that judges should stick to their retirement plans regardless of the political climate, as doing otherwise damages the credibility of the judiciary.
