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S. 5618

BillFederalSenateIn Committee
A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to provide an Inspector General for the judicial branch, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · September 30, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced
September 30, 2026
Cosponsors (8)
8D 0R
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Summary

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This bill establishes a new Inspector General office for the federal judicial branch to investigate misconduct by judges and justices. The Inspector General would be appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States in consultation with Senate and House leadership, serve four-year terms, and could be removed only by the Chief Justice with notification to Congress. The office would investigate judicial misconduct allegations in federal courts below the Supreme Court and also investigate Supreme Court justices under the Code of Conduct, as well as detect waste and fraud within the judicial system. The Inspector General would have broad investigative powers including the ability to subpoena witnesses and documents, but could not review the merits of judicial decisions or discipline judges directly. The bill requires the Inspector General to submit annual reports to Congress and the Chief Justice, report criminal violations to the Attorney General, and includes whistleblower protections for judicial branch employees who cooperate with investigations.

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