The Monitor Accountability Act establishes federal rules to regulate court-appointed monitors who oversee state and local government compliance with court orders. The bill requires the Judicial Conference of the United States to create conditions for these appointments within 180 days, including fee caps, restrictions on serving multiple monitorship positions simultaneously, a maximum five-year term limit, and a prohibition on reappointment under the same court order. The legislation also mandates public notice and comment before appointments, annual public accounting of services and fees, and mandatory case transfers to different judges after six years of monitoring. For existing monitorships that have already lasted six years, the bill requires appointment of a new monitor within 180 days and case transfer within one year. The bill affects state and local governments under court supervision and encourages monitors to provide pro bono or reduced-rate services as a public service.
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