I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4419 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 1, 2016 Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To update the financial disclosure requirements for judges of 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, D.C. 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, D.C. Official Code, that cover periods beginning during or after 2016.