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119-hr-7692119th Congress

Supreme Court Ethics and Investigations Act

Sponsored By: Representative Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

Introduced

Summary

Independent ethics and investigations offices for the Supreme Court. This bill would create an Office of Ethics Counsel to advise justices and an Office of Investigative Counsel to review complaints, investigate potential misconduct, and issue findings and recommendations.

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  • Justices and families: The Office of Ethics Counsel would give formal advice on gifts, financial disclosures, political activity, conflicts, and recusal, require biannual ethics training for justices, and produce annual reports on advice and follow-through.
  • Investigations and powers: The Office of Investigative Counsel would handle complaints about justices or their spouses and dependents, can subpoena witnesses and documents enforceable by federal courts, and must decide whether to investigate within 60 days and open an investigation within 15 days.
  • Transparency and Congress: Investigation findings and remedies would be reported to the Chief Justice and can be published with redactions. Specified congressional leaders may file complaints and designated committees receive access to reports within 10 days, and the Attorney General is notified if criminal conduct is suspected.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Ethics office for Supreme Court

If enacted, this bill would create an Office of Ethics Counsel inside the Supreme Court to advise justices and their spouses. The Chief Ethics Counsel would be appointed by the Chief Justice, serve up to two six-year terms, and be paid at least $225,000 per year. Other ethics counsels would serve up to two six-year terms and be paid at least $180,000 per year. The office would require biannual ethics training for justices and send an annual report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees describing advice given, topics covered, recommended mitigation measures, and known instances when advice was not followed.

Investigative office for Supreme Court

If enacted, this bill would create an Office of Investigative Counsel to review and investigate ethics complaints about justices and their spouses. The Chief Investigative Counsel would be appointed by the Chief Justice, serve at least one six-year term, and be paid at least $225,000 per year; at least two additional investigative counsels would be paid at least $180,000 per year. The office would review complaints within 60 days and open any investigation within 15 days if warranted. The chief could issue subpoenas enforceable in federal district court. The office would report findings to the Chief Justice (or the most senior associate justice if the Chief is the subject), make reports available to specified congressional committees within 10 days, and notify the Attorney General when there are reasonable grounds to believe a federal crime occurred. Only certain congressional leaders could file complaints with the office.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

NY • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2026

  • Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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