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119-s-4966119th Congress

High Court Gift Ban Act

Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Ban on most gifts to federal judges would create a new federal rule that sharply limits what judges may accept, defines key terms like "gift" and "prohibited source," and sets clear exceptions and penalties. It would also require the courts to issue implementing rules within 180 days.

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  • Judges and their households: Judges could not accept a gift unless they reasonably believe it is worth less than $50 and they have received no more than $100 from that source in a calendar year. Personal hospitality from individuals and gifts from relatives or other judges remain allowed under defined conditions.
  • Donors and event sponsors: A "prohibited source" is anyone with interests likely to come before the judge, and reimbursements for law-related events are limited to $2,000 unless a written waiver is obtained from the Chief Justice or the relevant chief judge.
  • Oversight and penalties: The Judicial Conference would refer violations to the Attorney General. Civil penalties can reach $50,000 and knowing, willful violations can trigger fines and up to 1 year in prison.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Penalties for judges accepting gifts

This bill would require the Judicial Conference (or a designated official) to refer any judge it reasonably suspects accepted a prohibited gift to the Attorney General. The Judicial Conference would also notify the judge's circuit judicial council when it makes a referral. The Attorney General could bring a civil action in federal court and a court could assess a civil penalty up to $50,000. Knowing and willful violations would also be subject to criminal penalties under title 18, including fines, up to one year in prison, or both.

New gift limits for federal judges

This bill would sharply limit what federal judges and other judicial officers can accept as gifts. A judge could accept a single gift only if it is under $50 and the same source gives no more than $100 in a calendar year. "Gift" would be defined broadly to include travel, local travel, lodging, meals, tickets, services, discounts, and reimbursements. Reimbursement for law-related seminars would be allowed only if not from a prohibited source and the total is $2,000 or less, or if the judge gets a written waiver (Chief Justice for a Supreme Court justice; circuit or district chief judge for others). Personal hospitality from an individual host would be allowed only up to the dollar amount set in Internal Revenue Code section 2503(b) for that year. Gifts to a judge’s relative would count as gifts to the judge if given with the judge’s knowledge and because of the judge’s position. The Supreme Court and the Judicial Conference would each have to issue rules to implement these limits within 180 days of enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 7/14/2026

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/14/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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