This bill creates two new independent offices within the Supreme Court to oversee judicial ethics and conduct. The Office of Ethics Counsel would advise justices and their spouses on ethics matters like financial disclosures, gift acceptance, conflicts of interest, and recusal decisions, while requiring all justices to complete biannual ethics training. The Office of Investigative Counsel would investigate ethics complaints filed by congressional leaders and senior committee members, with authority to issue subpoenas and compel testimony. The Chief Ethics Counsel would earn at least $225,000 annually and serve up to two six-year terms, while the Chief Investigative Counsel would earn the same salary but serve only one six-year term, with both positions requiring at least five to seven years of legal experience respectively. The investigative office must review complaints within 60 days, initiate investigations within 15 days if warranted, and submit findings to the Chief Justice (or senior associate justice if the Chief Justice is under investigation), with reports made available to Congress and the Attorney General if criminal violations are suspected. The bill includes no specific funding amount but establishes the legal framework for these offices to operate.
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