Impeaching John Deacon Bates, a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
This House resolution (H. Res. 157) introduced in the 119th Congress seeks to impeach John Deacon Bates, a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, for high crimes and misdemeanors. The resolution presents a single Article of Impeachment that alleges a pattern of conduct incompatible with the duties and trust placed in a federal judge. Specifically, it claims Judge Bates ordered federal agencies (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Food and Drug Administration) to restore LGBTQI+-related content on taxpayer-funded government webpages in a way that allegedly violated Executive Order 14168 (dated January 20, 2025). The Article cites Bates’s involvement in a temporary restraining order favoring a group called Doctors for America, arguing he did not adequately justify removing certain medical resources and did not properly consider the reliance of medical professionals on those resources. The text characterizes the content Bates allegedly acted to restore as information on “gender-affirming care,” and it frames the issue as involving moral and public policy concerns. The resolution concludes that Bates is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors and should be removed from office. As introduced, this is a House measure referred to the Judiciary Committee and has not progressed to a Senate trial.
Key Points
- 1Impeachment purpose and framework: The resolution formally impeaches John Deacon Bates for high crimes and misdemeanors and presents the Article of Impeachment for potential Senate consideration.
- 2Specific alleged misconduct: Bates is accused of ordering agencies (CDC, HHS, FDA) to restore certain LGBTQI+-related content on government websites, allegedly in contravention of Executive Order 14168 (dated Jan 20, 2025).
- 3Judicial decision-making cited: The Article alleges Bates granted a temporary restraining order to Doctors for America and argued that removing certain resources without explanation harmed the agencies’ ability to rely on data and professional expertise.
- 4Content description used by the bill: The Article asserts the webpages in question included information on gender-affirming care and characterizes it in the bill as “the intentional surgical or chemical castration of children,” framing these issues as grave moral concerns.
- 5Consequences asserted: The Article states Bates’s conduct is incompatible with the trust and confidence of a federal judge, rendering him unfit for the office and warranting removal from office.
- 6Status and process: Introduced in February 2025, referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary; as a resolution, it represents a formal impeachment action but does not itself remove the judge—any removal would require a Senate trial and a two-thirds vote for conviction.