Monitor Accountability Act

New limits and rules for monitors

This bill would define a "monitor" as a person a court orders to watch a State or local government. The Judicial Conference would have 180 days after enactment to make a rule that sets appointment conditions. The rule would cap monitor fees at rates set by the Judicial Conference and allow pro bono or reduced-rate work. A person could not hold more than one monitorship at once, serve more than five years under the same court order, or be reappointed to that same order. Before appointing a monitor, courts would give notice and let the public comment. Courts would have to hold a hearing to revise a monitorship, and may change only requirements where the subject has not reached substantial and sustained compliance. If a monitorship is still active six years after the court order, the case would move to a different judge in the same district. Monitors would file an annual accounting of services and fees with the imposing court, and the court would make that accounting public. For monitorships already active six years at enactment, a new monitor would be appointed within 180 days after the Judicial Conference rule is finalized, and the case would be transferred within one year after enactment.