District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act

To update the financial disclosure requirements for judges of the District of Columbia courts, and to make other improvements to the District of Columbia courts. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act 2. Financial disclosure requirements for judges of District of Columbia courts (a) Requirements described Section 11–1530, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended to read as follows: 11–1530. Financial statements (a) Pursuant to such rules as the Commission shall promulgate, each judge of the District of Columbia courts shall, within one year following the date of enactment of the District of Columbia Court Reorganization Act of 1970 and at least annually thereafter, file with the Commission a report containing the following information: (1) (A) The source, type and amount of the judge’s income which exceeds $200 (other than income from the United States government and income referred to in subparagraph (C)) for the period covered by the report. (B) The source and type of the judge’s spouse’s income which exceeds $1,000 (other than income from the United States government and income referred to in subparagraph (C)) for the period covered by the report. (C) The source and type of income which consists of dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains received by the judge and the judge’s spouse during such period which exceeds $200 in amount or value, and an indication of which of the following categories the amount or value of such item of income is within— (i) not more than $1,000, (ii) greater than 1,000 but not more than $2,500, (iii) greater than $2,500 but not more than $5,000, (iv) greater than $5,000 but not more than $15,000, (v) greater than $15,000 but not more than $50,000, (vi) greater than $50,000 but not more than $100,000, (vii) greater than $100,000 but not more than $1,000,000, (viii) greater than $1,000,000 but not more than $5,000,000, or (ix) greater than $5,000,000. (2) The name and address of each private foundation or eleemosynary institution, and of each business or professional corporation, firm, or enterprise in which the judge was an officer, director, proprietor, or partner during such period. (3) The identity and category of value (as set forth in subsection (b)) of each liability of $10,000 or more owed by the judge or by the judge and the judge’s spouse jointly at any time during such period. (4) The source and value of all gifts in the aggregate amount or value of $250 or more from any single source received by the judge during such period, except gifts from the judge’s spouse or any of the judge’s children or parents. (5) The identity of each trust in which the judge held a beneficial interest having a value of $10,000 or more at any time during such period, and in the case of any trust in which the judge held any beneficial interest during such period, the identity, if known, of each interest in real or personal property in which the trust held a beneficial interest having a value of $10,000 or more at any time during such period. If the judge cannot obtain the identity of the trust interest, the judge shall request the trustee to report that information to the Commission. (6) The identity and category of value (as set forth in subsection (b)) of each interest in real or personal property having a value of $10,000 or more which the judge owned at any time during such period. (7) The amount or value and source of each honorarium of $250 or more received by the judge and the judge’s spouse during such period. (8) The source and amount of all money, other than that received from the United States government, received in the form of an expense account or as reimbursement for expenditures from any source aggregating more than $250 during such period. (9) The source and amount of all waivers or partial waivers of fees or charges accepted by the judge on behalf of the judge or the judge’s spouse, domestic partner, or guest during such period. (b) For purposes of paragraphs (3) and (6) of subsection (a), the categories of value set forth in this subsection are— (1) not more than $15,000; (2) greater than $15,000 but not more than $50,000; (3) greater than $50,000 but not more than $100,000; (4) greater than $100,000 but not more than $250,000; (5) greater than $250,000 but not more than $500,000; (6) greater than $500,000 but not more than $1,000,000; (7) greater than $1,000,000 but not more than $5,000,000; (8) greater than $5,000,000 but not more than $25,000,000; (9) greater than $25,000,000 but not more than $50,000,000; and (10) greater than $50,000,000. (c) (1) Reports filed pursuant to this section shall, upon written request, and notice to the reporting judge for purposes of making an application to the Commission for a redaction pursuant to paragraph (2), be made available for public inspection and copying within a reasonable time after filing and during the period they are kept by the Commission (in accordance with rules promulgated by the Commission), and shall be kept by the Commission for not less than three years. (2) This section does not require the public availability of reports filed by a judge if upon application by the reporting judge, a finding is made by the Commission that revealing personal and sensitive information could endanger that judge or a family member of that judge, except that a report may be redacted pursuant to this paragraph only— (A) to the extent necessary to protect the individual who filed the report or a family member of that individual; and (B) for as long as the danger to such individual exists. (d) The intentional failure by a judge of a District of Columbia court to file a report required by this section, or the filing of a fraudulent report, shall constitute willful misconduct in office and shall be grounds for removal from office under section 11–1526(a)(2). . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to reports filed under section 11–1530, District of Columbia Official Code, that cover periods beginning during or after 2016. 3. Authority of Probate Division to use magistrate judges (a) In general Section 11–1732(j)(5), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking Family Divisions Probate Divisions, and the Family Court, (b) Technical and conforming amendment Section 11–1732(j)(4)(A), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking Family Division Family Court 4. Authority of District of Columbia courts to accept certain types of payments (a) In general Subchapter III of chapter 17 11–1748. Authority of courts to accept certain types of payments (a) Definitions In this section, the term electronic funds transfer (1) means a transfer of funds, other than a transaction by check, draft, or similar paper instrument, that is initiated through an electronic terminal, telephone, or computer or magnetic tape for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a financial institution to debit or credit an account; and (2) includes point of sale transfers, automated teller machine transfers, direct deposit or withdrawal of funds, transfers initiated by telephone, and transfers resulting from debit card transactions. (b) Authority To accept credit card payments and electronic funds transfers (1) In general The District of Columbia courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, restitution, bonds, and other payments to the courts by credit card or electronic funds transfer. (2) Use of vendors and third party providers The Executive officer— (A) may contract with a bank or credit card vendor, or other third party provider, for purposes of accepting payments by credit card or electronic funds transfer; and (B) shall make every effort to find the lowest cost vendor for purposes of accepting such payments. (3) Responsibility for paying fees Under any contract entered into under paragraph (2), the person making the payment shall be responsible for covering any fee or charge associated or imposed with respect to the method of payment. (4) Completion of payment If a person elects to make a payment to the District of Columbia courts by a method authorized under paragraph (1), the payment shall not be deemed to be made until the courts receive the funds. (c) Authority To accept checks (1) In general The District of Columbia courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, restitution, bonds, and other payments to the courts by check. (2) Use of check guarantee vendor The Executive Officer— (A) may contract with a check guarantee vendor for purposes of accepting payments by check; and (B) shall make every effort to find the lowest cost vendor for purposes of accepting such payments. (3) Responsibility for paying fees Under any contract entered into under paragraph (2), the person making the payment by check shall be responsible for covering any fee or charge associated or imposed with respect to the method of payment. (d) Liability for non-Payment If a check or other method of payment, including payment by credit card, debit card, or charge card, so received is not duly paid, or is paid and subsequently charged back to the District of Columbia courts, the person by whom such check or other method of payment has been tendered shall remain liable for the payment, to the same extent as if such check or other method of payment had not been tendered. . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for subchapter III of chapter 17 11–1748. Authority of courts to accept certain types of payments. . 5. Increase in maximum amount in controversy permitted for cases under jurisdiction of Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of Superior Court (a) In general Section 11–1321, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking $5,000 $10,000 (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any case filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 6. Authority to approve compensation of attorneys in excess of maximum amount (a) In general Section 11–2604(c), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking the last sentence and inserting The chief judge may delegate such approval authority to an active or senior judge. (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any case or proceeding initiated on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to revise the financial disclosure requirements for District of Columbia judges. The revisions establish new dollar thresholds and requirements for reporting to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure the financial interests of the judges and specified family members with respect to: income; dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains; liabilities; gifts; real and personal property; honoraria; expense accounts or reimbursements for expenses; and waivers or partial waivers of fees or charges. The financial disclosure reports must be available for public inspection and copying, unless revealing personal and sensitive information could endanger the judge or a family member. A report may be redacted only: (1) to the extent necessary to protect the individual or family member, and (2) as long as the danger to the individual exists. (Sec. 3) The Probate Divisions of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia may use magistrate judges. (Sec. 4) DC courts may accept payment of fines, fees, escrow payments, restitution, bonds, and other payments by credit card or electronic funds transfer. The executive officer of the courts may contract with a bank or credit card vendor, or other third party provider, to accept such payments, making every effort to find the lowest cost vendor among them. (Sec. 5) The maximum amount in controversy for cases under the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of DC Superior Court shall increase from $5,000 to $10,000. (Sec. 6) Each chief judge of the Superior Court or of the Court of Appeals, as appropriate, may delegate to an active or senior judge (in the court in which the chief judge sits) the authority to approve any compensation for court-appointed criminal defense or child abuse and neglect attorneys exceeding the usual maximum.