John Pickering (judge)

John Pickering (1737 – 1805) was a United States federal judge who served on the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. He is notable for being the first federal official to be impeached and removed from office by the United States Congress.

Pickering, a graduate of Harvard College, served as a judge in New Hampshire state courts before being appointed to the federal bench by President George Washington in 1795. During his time as a judge, Pickering gained a reputation for erratic behavior and increasingly showed signs of mental instability, including alcoholism and delusions.

These issues eventually led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1803. The articles of impeachment charged him with high crimes and misdemeanors, specifically citing his conduct during the trial of the ship Eliza, where he appeared to be intoxicated and made irrational rulings.

The Senate convicted Pickering in 1804. His mental incompetence was debated; some argued he was mentally ill and therefore not culpable for "high crimes and misdemeanors," while others maintained that his behavior, regardless of the cause, warranted removal from office to protect the integrity of the judiciary. Ultimately, the Senate voted to remove him from his judgeship, establishing a precedent for the removal of federal judges due to mental incapacity.

Pickering's impeachment is significant as it clarified the scope of impeachment power and set a precedent for addressing judicial misconduct and incapacity. It also highlighted the complexities of dealing with mental illness within the context of public office.