Judicial FOIA Expansion Act
Sponsored By: Representative Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Introduced
Summary
Applies the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act to most federal courts to make a set of judicial records publicly accessible. The bill defines which courts are covered, lists categories of court records that must be available, and sets new publication and representation rules for those records.
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- The public gains access to specific court records, including attorney disciplinary proceedings or sanctions, complaints and investigations against judges or court staff, Federal Judicial Conference calendars and minutes, Federal Judicial Center research, completed jury selection forms, performance reports, PACER audit or update plans, and annual reports to Congress.
- Judges and court personnel face disclosure of disciplinary files and performance reports, though deliberative matters from hearings and information tied to ongoing cases remain exempt. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is explicitly excluded from coverage.
- Courts must publish covered records in machine-readable form and the Attorney General will represent courts in FOIA or Privacy Act claims. The bill also authorizes creation of an office within the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to meet these requirements.
*Authorizes $10 million for fiscal year 2027 to implement these new transparency requirements.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
More public access to court records
If enacted, the bill would treat many judicial-branch bodies as "courts of the United States" for FOIA and the Privacy Act. It would list types of court records you could request, including attorney discipline records (not deliberations), complaints or investigations of judges or staff, Federal Judicial Conference calendars and minutes, Federal Judicial Center research, completed jury selection forms, judge performance reports, PACER audit plans, and annual reports to Congress. Courts would have to publish FOIA and Privacy Act records in machine-readable formats. The bill would also say FOIA does not apply to matters related to ongoing cases or to information the courts do not possess, and it would not displace the common-law right of public access.
Funding to set up court FOIA office
If enacted, the bill would authorize $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 to meet the Act's requirements. The authorization explicitly includes creating an office inside the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to implement the changes. This is an authorization of funding, not an immediate appropriation.
Attorney General defends courts in FOIA suits
If enacted, the Attorney General would represent a court of the United States in any claim brought under the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act. The Department of Justice would handle legal defense for courts in those cases. This centralizes who defends courts in FOIA and Privacy Act litigation and could affect how those cases are litigated.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov