The U.S. Constitution directs that federal judges "shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour." Last week the House of Representatives concluded that the behavior of one of those jurists, U.S. District Judge Alcee Hastings of Miami, was not good enough. By a lopsided vote of 413 to 3, the chamber approved 17 articles of impeachment against him. The main accusation: Hastings conspired to obtain a $150,000 bribe in exchange for granting leniency to two convicted racketeers. The House action puts Hastings, 51, in a very select circle. He becomes only the twelfth judge, and the first black, in U.S. history to...
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