The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will investigate a federal judge from Montana who admitted that he circulated a racist e-mail about President Barack Obama.

Chief Judge Richard Cebull asked the 9th Circuit to initiate a "complaint of judicial misconduct," the appeals court said in a statement.

"Chief District Judge Cebull has publicly acknowledged that he has acted inappropriately," the statement read.

Cebull, who was nominated by former President George W. Bush, also sent a letter to President Obama, apologizing for his actions. A copy has been posted on the 9th Circuit's web page.

"I sincerely and profusely apologize to you and your family for the email I forwarded. I accept full responsibility; I have no one to blame but myself. I can assure you that such action on my part will never happen again. I have requested that the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit review this matter," Cebull wrote.

"Honestly, I don't know what else I can do. Please forgive me and, again, my most sincere apology," he concluded.

Cebull, a former judge for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, became chief judge of the U.S. District Court in 2008. He's now facing numerous calls to resign and lawmakers from Montana are reacting with caution to the situation.

Get the Story:
Groups call for Cebull's resignation (The Great Falls Tribune 3/2)
Cebull asks for review of conduct on bench (The Billings Gazette 3/2)
Federal judge files complaint over his own e-mail message (The National Law Journal 3/1)

Montana federal judge admits sending 'racist' Obama e-mail (2/29)