I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5219 
To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for the detection and 
prevention of inappropriate conduct in the Federal judiciary. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 27, 2006 
Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself and Mr. SMITH of Texas) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for the 
detection and prevention of inappropriate conduct in the 
Federal judiciary. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Judicial Transparency 
and Ethics Enhancement Act of 2006’’. 
SEC. 2. INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL BRANCH. 
(a) CREATION AND DUTIES.—Part III of title 28, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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‘‘CHAPTER 60—INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR 
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH 
‘‘1021. Establishment. 
‘‘1022. Appointment of Inspector General. 
‘‘1023. Duties. 
‘‘1024. Powers. 
‘‘1025. Reports. 
‘‘1026. Whistleblower protection. 
‘‘§ 1021. Establishment 
‘‘There is established for the judicial branch of the 
Government the Office of Inspector General for the Judi-
cial Branch (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the 
‘Office’). 
‘‘§ 1022. Appointment of Inspector General 
‘‘The head of the Office shall be the Inspector Gen-
eral, who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice of the 
United States after consultation with the majority and mi-
nority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker and minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘§ 1023. Duties 
‘‘With respect to the Judicial Branch, other than the 
United States Supreme Court, the Office shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct investigations of matters per-
taining to the Judicial Branch, including possible 
misconduct in office of judges and proceedings under 
chapter 16 of this title, that may require oversight 
or other action within the Judicial Branch or by 
Congress; 
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‘‘(2) conduct and supervise audits and inves-
tigations; 
‘‘(3) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and 
abuse; and 
‘‘(4) recommend changes in laws or regulations 
governing the Judicial Branch. 
‘‘§ 1024. Powers 
‘‘In carrying out the duties of the Office, the Inspec-
tor General shall have the power— 
‘‘(1) to make investigations and reports; 
‘‘(2) to obtain information or assistance from 
any Federal, State, or local governmental agency, or 
other entity, or unit thereof, including all informa-
tion kept in the course of business by the Judicial 
Conference of the United States, the judicial coun-
cils of circuits, the Administrative Office of the 
United States Courts, and the United States Sen-
tencing Commission; 
‘‘(3) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the 
attendance and testimony of such witnesses, and the 
production of such books, records, correspondence 
memoranda, papers, and documents, which sub-
poena, in the case of contumacy or refusal to obey, 
shall be enforceable by civil action; 
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