110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 461
To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide an Inspector
General for the judicial branch, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 31, 2007
Mr. GRASSLEY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide an Inspector
General for the judicial branch, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 2007'.
SEC. 2. INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL BRANCH.
(a) Establishment and Duties- Part III of title 28, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
`CHAPTER 60--INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
`1022. Appointment, term, and removal of Inspector General.
`1026. Whistleblower protection.
`Sec. 1021. Establishment
`There is established for the judicial branch of the Government the Office
of Inspector General for the Judicial Branch (in this chapter referred to
as the `Office').
`Sec. 1022. Appointment, term, and removal of Inspector General
`(a) Appointment- The head of the Office shall be the Inspector General,
who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States after consultation
with the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the Speaker and
minority leader of the House of Representatives.
`(b) Term- The Inspector General shall serve for a term of 4 years and may
be reappointed by the Chief Justice of the United States for any number
of additional terms.
`(c) Removal- The Inspector General may be removed from office by the Chief
Justice of the United States. The Chief Justice shall communicate the reasons
for any such removal to both Houses of Congress.
`Sec. 1023. Duties
`With respect to the judicial branch, the Office shall--
`(1) conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in the judicial branch
(other than the United States Supreme Court) under chapter 16, that may
require oversight or other action within the judicial branch or by Congress;
`(2) conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in the United States
Supreme Court, that may require oversight or other action within the judicial
branch or by Congress;
`(3) conduct and supervise audits and investigations;
`(4) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse; and
`(5) recommend changes in laws or regulations governing the judicial branch.
`Sec. 1024. Powers
`(a) Powers- In carrying out the duties of the Office, the Inspector General
shall have the power to--
`(1) make investigations and reports;
`(2) obtain information or assistance from any Federal, State, or local
governmental agency, or other entity, or unit thereof, including all information
kept in the course of business by the Judicial Conference of the United
States, the judicial councils of circuits, the Administrative Office of
the United States Courts, and the United States Sentencing Commission;
`(3) 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 subpoena, in the case of contumacy
or refusal to obey, shall be enforceable by civil action;
`(4) administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit;
`(5) employ such officers and employees, subject to the provisions of
title 5, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating
to classification and General Schedule pay rates;
`(6) obtain services as authorized by section 3109 of title 5 at daily
rates not to exceed the equivalent rate for a position at level IV of
the Executive Schedule under section 5315; and
`(7) the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriations
Acts, to enter into contracts and other arrangements for audits, studies,
analyses, and other services with public agencies and with private persons,
and to make such payments as may be necessary to carry out the duties
of the Office.
`(b) Chapter 16 Matters- The Inspector General shall not commence an investigation
under section 1023(1) until the denial of a petition for review by the judicial
council of the circuit under section 352(c) of this title or upon referral
or certification to the Judicial Conference of the United States of any
matter under section 354(b) of this title.
`(c) Limitation- The Inspector General shall not have the authority to--
`(1) investigate or review any matter that is directly related to the
merits of a decision or procedural ruling by any judge, justice, or court;
or
`(2) punish or discipline any judge, justice, or court.
`Sec. 1025. Reports
`(a) When To Be Made- The Inspector General shall--
`(1) make an annual report to the Chief Justice and to Congress relating
to the activities of the Office; and
`(2) make prompt reports to the Chief Justice and to Congress on matters
that may require action by the Chief Justice or Congress.
`(b) Sensitive Matter- If a report contains sensitive matter, the Inspector
General may so indicate and Congress may receive that report in closed session.
`(c) Duty To Inform Attorney General- In carrying out the duties of the
Office, the Inspector General shall report expeditiously to the Attorney
General whenever the Inspector General has reasonable grounds to believe
there has been a violation of Federal criminal law.
`Sec. 1026. Whistleblower protection
`(a) In General- No officer, employee, agent, contractor or subcontractor
in the judicial branch may discharge, demote, threaten, suspend, harass
or in any other manner discriminate against an employee in the terms and
conditions of employment because of any lawful act done by the employee
to provide information, cause information to be provided, or otherwise assist
in an investigation regarding any possible violation of Federal law or regulation,
or misconduct, by a judge, justice, or any other employee in the judicial
branch, which may assist the Inspector General in the performance of duties
under this chapter.
`(b) Civil Action- An employee injured by a violation of subsection (a)
may, in a civil action, obtain appropriate relief.'.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment- The table of chapters for part III
of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`60. Inspector General for the judicial branch.'.
END
