Court Opinion

ID: 9804313
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 16:38:22.883692+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:05:45.048337
License: Public Domain

WALLACE, Senior Circuit Judge, concurring:
Chief Judge Kozinski stated in his order that it “is the JCUS Committee [on Financial Disclosure] that has jurisdiction to review and approve these financial disclosure reports.” I write separately to emphasize that 5 U.S.C. § 906(b)(1) provides that this JCUS Committee, as the body designated by the Judicial Conference to review financial disclosure reports, also signs the reports if the committee determines that the judge’s submission is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. But even if the JCUS Committee makes such a finding and signs a report, there should be no misunderstanding that the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act would still apply if a chief judge is presented with evidence of misconduct with regard to a judge’s financial disclosure requirements. In other words, a signing or approval by the JCUS Committee does not restrict or bar an inquiry into a judge’s financial disclosure report when a complainant presents evidence of fraud or bad faith. Because there was no evidence of such misconduct in this case, I agree that we should affirm the decision of the Chief Judge.