Supreme Court Ethics and Investigations Act

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Legislation Details

Establishes an Office of Ethics Counsel within the Supreme Court to provide guidance on judicial ethics to justices and their spouses.
The Office of Ethics Counsel will consist of a chief ethics counsel and additional staff, all of whom must not be current employees of the Court at the time of enactment.
The chief ethics counsel will be appointed by the Chief Justice, serve a maximum of two 6-year terms, and receive a minimum annual salary of $225,000.
Other counsels will also be appointed by the chief ethics counsel, serve up to two 6-year terms, and receive a minimum salary of $180,000.
Counsel members must be licensed attorneys with at least 5 years of experience and possess exceptional qualifications.
The Office will provide biannual training on judicial ethics for justices and submit annual reports on the ethics advice given.
Defines “gift” and “political activity” in the context of judicial ethics.
Establishes an Office of Investigative Counsel within the Supreme Court to review and investigate ethics complaints against justices.
The Office will be led by a Chief Investigative Counsel and at least two additional investigative counsels, all of whom must not be current employees of the Court at the time of enactment.
The Chief Investigative Counsel will be appointed by the Chief Justice, serve a maximum of one 6-year term, and receive a minimum salary of $225,000.
Investigative counsels will be appointed by the Chief Investigative Counsel and serve at their discretion, with a minimum salary of $180,000.
Investigative counsels must have at least 7 years of legal experience and be of exceptional public standing.
The Chief Investigative Counsel will have subpoena power to compel testimony and document production during investigations.
Ethics complaints can be filed by specific congressional leaders and must be reviewed within 60 days to determine if a full investigation is warranted.
The Office must report findings and recommendations to the Chief Justice or the most senior associate justice if the Chief Justice is the subject of the complaint.
Reports may be made public at the discretion of the Chief Justice, and findings must be shared with relevant congressional committees and the Attorney General if federal law violations are suspected.
Includes a severability clause to ensure the remainder of the Act remains effective if any provision is found unconstitutional.

Establishes an Office of Ethics Counsel within the Supreme Court to provide guidance on judicial ethics to justices and their spouses.
The Office of Ethics Counsel will consist of a chief ethics counsel and additional staff, all of whom must not be current employees of the Court at the time of enactment.
The chief ethics counsel will be appointed by the Chief Justice, serve a maximum of two 6-year terms, and receive a minimum annual salary of $225,000.
Other counsels will also be appointed by the chief ethics counsel, serve up to two 6-year terms, and receive a minimum salary of $180,000.
Counsel members must be licensed attorneys with at least 5 years of experience and possess exceptional qualifications.
The Office will provide biannual training on judicial ethics for justices and submit annual reports on the ethics advice given.
Defines “gift” and “political activity” in the context of judicial ethics.
Establishes an Office of Investigative Counsel within the Supreme Court to review and investigate ethics complaints against justices.
The Office will be led by a Chief Investigative Counsel and at least two additional investigative counsels, all of whom must not be current employees of the Court at the time of enactment.
The Chief Investigative Counsel will be appointed by the Chief Justice, serve a maximum of one 6-year term, and receive a minimum salary of $225,000.
Investigative counsels will be appointed by the Chief Investigative Counsel and serve at their discretion, with a minimum salary of $180,000.
Investigative counsels must have at least 7 years of legal experience and be of exceptional public standing.
The Chief Investigative Counsel will have subpoena power to compel testimony and document production during investigations.
Ethics complaints can be filed by specific congressional leaders and must be reviewed within 60 days to determine if a full investigation is warranted.
The Office must report findings and recommendations to the Chief Justice or the most senior associate justice if the Chief Justice is the subject of the complaint.
Reports may be made public at the discretion of the Chief Justice, and findings must be shared with relevant congressional committees and the Attorney General if federal law violations are suspected.
Includes a severability clause to ensure the remainder of the Act remains effective if any provision is found unconstitutional.

Supreme Court Ethics and Investigations Act

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