Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act

Bill: 117-hr-5720
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Introduced: 2021-10-25
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Financial services and investments

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Government information and archives

Judges

Judicial procedure and administration

Securities
Latest action: action_date: 2021-12-02
text: Received in the Senate.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-10-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>This bill requires federal judicial officers to file periodic transaction reports disclosing certain securities transactions. The bill also requires online publication of judicial financial disclosure reports.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires federal judicial officers to file reports within 45 days after a purchase, sale, or exchange that exceeds $1,000 in stocks, bonds, commodities futures, and other forms of securities.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill directs the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish a searchable internet database of judicial financial disclosure reports. The office must, within 90 days of the date by which a report must be filed, make the report available on the database in a searchable, sortable, and downloadable format.</p> <p> The bill does not require the immediate and unconditional availability of reports filed by a judicial officer or employee if the Judicial Conference finds that revealing personal and sensitive formation could endanger that individual or a family member of that individual.</p>

action_date: 2021-12-01
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><strong>Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires federal judicial officers to file periodic transaction reports disclosing certain securities transactions. The bill also requires online publication of judicial financial disclosure reports.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires federal judicial officers to file reports within 45 days after a purchase, sale, or exchange that exceeds $1,000 in stocks, bonds, commodities futures, and other forms of securities.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill directs the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish a searchable internet database of judicial financial disclosure reports. The office must, within 90 days of the date by which a report must be filed, make the report available on the database in a searchable, sortable, and downloadable format.</p> <p> The bill does not require the immediate and unconditional availability of reports filed by a judicial officer or employee if the Judicial Conference finds that revealing personal and sensitive formation could endanger that individual or a family member of that individual.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5720 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 25, 2021 Ms. Ross (for herself, Mr. Issa , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Nadler , and Mr. Roy ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to provide for a periodic transaction reporting requirement for Federal judicial officers and the online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act of 2021 . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) recent reports indicate certain Federal judges have failed to recuse themselves from cases and controversies in which the financial interests of the Federal judges are implicated; (2) Federal law and the judicial recusal rules applicable to Federal judges require that Federal judges disqualify themselves in any proceeding in which the impartiality of the Federal judges might be reasonably questioned, including instances in which a Federal judge has any financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding; (3) litigants and the public have an interest in fair and impartial judicial proceedings, the results and conduct of which avoid any appearance of impropriety; and (4) in 2012, the STOCK Act ( Public Law 112–105 ; 126 Stat. 291) was enacted, which provides that Members of Congress and Federal officials have a duty of trust and confidentiality to not use information obtained from their official duties for private gain, including the purchase and sale of stocks, bonds, commodities, futures, and other securities. 3. Periodic transaction reports and online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers (a) Periodic transaction reporting requirement for Federal judicial officers (1) In general Section 103( l ) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following: (11) Each judicial officer. . (2) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to applicable transactions occurring on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers Section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Online publication of financial disclosure reports of judicial officers (1) Establishment of database Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act of 2021 , the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall establish a searchable internet database to enable public access to any report required to be filed by a judicial officer under this title. (2) Availability Not later than 90 days after the date on which a report is required to be filed under this title by a judicial officer, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall make the report available on the database established under paragraph (1) in a full-text searchable, sortable, and downloadable format for access by the public. (3) Redaction Any report made available on the database established under paragraph (1) shall not contain any information that is redacted in accordance with subsection (b)(3). . (c) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Section 103( l ) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) (as amended by subsection (a)(1)) is amended— (A) in paragraph (9), by striking , as defined under section 109(12) ; and (B) in paragraph (10), by striking , as defined under section 109(13) . (2) Section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) (as amended by subsection (b)) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking be revealing and inserting by revealing ; and (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1)— (I) in the first sentence, by striking be,, and inserting be, ; and (II) in the third sentence, by striking may be may and inserting may be, may ; and (ii) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking described in section 109(8) or 109(10) of this Act and inserting who is a judicial officer or a judicial employee . (3) Section 107(a)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App) is amended in the last sentence by striking and (d) and inserting and (e) .

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5720 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to provide for a periodic transaction reporting requirement for Federal judicial officers and the online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act . 2. Periodic transaction reports and online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers (a) Periodic transaction reporting requirement for Federal judicial officers (1) In general Section 103(l) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following: (11) Each judicial officer. . (2) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to applicable transactions occurring on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers Section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Online publication of financial disclosure reports of judicial officers (1) Establishment of database Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act , the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall establish a searchable internet database to enable public access to any report required to be filed by a judicial officer under this title. (2) Availability Not later than 90 days after the date on which a report is required to be filed under this title by a judicial officer, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall make the report available on the database established under paragraph (1) in a full-text searchable, sortable, and downloadable format for access by the public. (3) Redaction Any report made available on the database established under paragraph (1) shall not contain any information that is redacted in accordance with subsection (b)(3). . (c) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Section 103(l) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) (as amended by subsection (a)(1)) is amended— (A) in paragraph (9), by striking , as defined under section 109(12) ; and (B) in paragraph (10), by striking , as defined under section 109(13) . (2) Section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) (as amended by subsection (b)) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking be revealing and inserting by revealing ; and (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1)— (I) in the first sentence, by striking be,, and inserting be, ; and (II) in the third sentence, by striking may be may and inserting may be, may ; and (ii) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking described in section 109(8) or 109(10) of this Act and inserting who is a judicial officer or a judicial employee . (3) Section 107(a)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App) is amended in the last sentence by striking and (d) and inserting and (e) .

Passed the House of Representatives December 1, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5720 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 2, 2021 Received AN ACT To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to provide for a periodic transaction reporting requirement for Federal judicial officers and the online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act . 2. Periodic transaction reports and online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers (a) Periodic transaction reporting requirement for Federal judicial officers (1) In general Section 103(l) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following: (11) Each judicial officer. . (2) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to applicable transactions occurring on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers Section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Online publication of financial disclosure reports of judicial officers (1) Establishment of database Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act , the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall establish a searchable internet database to enable public access to any report required to be filed by a judicial officer under this title. (2) Availability Not later than 90 days after the date on which a report is required to be filed under this title by a judicial officer, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall make the report available on the database established under paragraph (1) in a full-text searchable, sortable, and downloadable format for access by the public. (3) Redaction Any report made available on the database established under paragraph (1) shall not contain any information that is redacted in accordance with subsection (b)(3). . (c) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Section 103(l) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) (as amended by subsection (a)(1)) is amended— (A) in paragraph (9), by striking , as defined under section 109(12) ; and (B) in paragraph (10), by striking , as defined under section 109(13) . (2) Section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) (as amended by subsection (b)) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking be revealing and inserting by revealing ; and (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1)— (I) in the first sentence, by striking be,, and inserting be, ; and (II) in the third sentence, by striking may be may and inserting may be, may ; and (ii) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking described in section 109(8) or 109(10) of this Act and inserting who is a judicial officer or a judicial employee . (3) Section 107(a)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App) is amended in the last sentence by striking and (d) and inserting and (e) .

Passed the House of Representatives December 1, 2021. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 143 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5720 [Report No. 117–199] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 25, 2021 Ms. Ross (for herself, Mr. Issa , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Nadler , and Mr. Roy ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary December 1, 2021 Additional sponsors: Ms. Jackson Lee , Mr. Norman , and Ms. Garcia of Texas December 1, 2021 Reported with an amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October 25, 2021 A BILL To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to provide for a periodic transaction reporting requirement for Federal judicial officers and the online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act . 2. Periodic transaction reports and online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers (a) Periodic transaction reporting requirement for Federal judicial officers (1) In general Section 103(l) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following: (11) Each judicial officer. . (2) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to applicable transactions occurring on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Online publication of financial disclosure reports of Federal judicial officers Section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Online publication of financial disclosure reports of judicial officers (1) Establishment of database Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act , the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall establish a searchable internet database to enable public access to any report required to be filed by a judicial officer under this title. (2) Availability Not later than 90 days after the date on which a report is required to be filed under this title by a judicial officer, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall make the report available on the database established under paragraph (1) in a full-text searchable, sortable, and downloadable format for access by the public. (3) Redaction Any report made available on the database established under paragraph (1) shall not contain any information that is redacted in accordance with subsection (b)(3). . (c) Technical and conforming amendments (1) Section 103(l) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) (as amended by subsection (a)(1)) is amended— (A) in paragraph (9), by striking , as defined under section 109(12) ; and (B) in paragraph (10), by striking , as defined under section 109(13) . (2) Section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) (as amended by subsection (b)) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking be revealing and inserting by revealing ; and (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1)— (I) in the first sentence, by striking be,, and inserting be, ; and (II) in the third sentence, by striking may be may and inserting may be, may ; and (ii) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking described in section 109(8) or 109(10) of this Act and inserting who is a judicial officer or a judicial employee . (3) Section 107(a)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App) is amended in the last sentence by striking and (d) and inserting and (e) .

December 1, 2021 Reported with an amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed