[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4419 Introduced in House (IH)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4419
To update the financial disclosure requirements for judges of the
District of Columbia courts.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 1, 2016
Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To update the financial disclosure requirements for judges of the
District of Columbia courts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``District of Columbia Judicial
Financial Transparency Act''.
SEC. 2. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR JUDGES OF DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA COURTS.
(a) Requirements Described.--Section 11-1530, D.C. Official Code,
is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 11-1530. Financial statements
``(a) Pursuant to such rules as the Commission shall promulgate,
each judge of the District of Columbia courts shall, within one year
following the date of enactment of the District of Columbia Court
Reorganization Act of 1970 and at least annually thereafter, file with
the Commission a report containing the following information:
``(1)(A) The source, type and amount of the judge's income
which exceeds $200 (other than income from the United States
government and income referred to in subparagraph (C)) for the
period covered by the report.
``(B) The source and type of the judge's spouse's income
which exceeds $1,000 (other than income from the United States
government and income referred to in subparagraph (C)) for the
period covered by the report.
``(C) The source and type of income which consists of
dividends, rents, interest, and capital gains received by the
judge and the judge's spouse during such period which exceeds
$200 in amount or value, and an indication of which of the
following categories the amount or value of such item of income
is within--
``(i) not more than $1,000,
``(ii) greater than 1,000 but not more than $2,500,
``(iii) greater than $2,500 but not more than
$5,000,
``(iv) greater than $5,000 but not more than
$15,000,
``(v) greater than $15,000 but not more than
$50,000,
``(vi) greater than $50,000 but not more than
$100,000,
``(vii) greater than $100,000 but not more than
$1,000,000,
``(viii) greater than $1,000,000 but not more than
$5,000,000, or
``(ix) greater than $5,000,000.
``(2) The name and address of each private foundation or
eleemosynary institution, and of each business or professional
corporation, firm, or enterprise in which the judge was an
officer, director, proprietor, or partner during such period.
``(3) The identity and category of value (as set forth in
subsection (b)) of each liability of $10,000 or more owed by
the judge or by the judge and the judge's spouse jointly at any
time during such period.
``(4) The source and value of all gifts in the aggregate
amount or value of $250 or more from any single source received
by the judge during such period, except gifts from the judge's
spouse or any of the judge's children or parents.
``(5) The identity of each trust in which the judge held a
beneficial interest having a value of $10,000 or more at any
time during such period, and in the case of any trust in which
the judge held any beneficial interest during such period, the
identity, if known, of each interest in real or personal
property in which the trust held a beneficial interest having a
value of $10,000 or more at any time during such period. If the
judge cannot obtain the identity of the trust interest, the
judge shall request the trustee to report that information to
the Commission.
``(6) The identity and category of value (as set forth in
subsection (b)) of each interest in real or personal property
having a value of $10,000 or more which the judge owned at any
time during such period.
``(7) The amount or value and source of each honorarium of
$250 or more received by the judge and the judge's spouse
during such period.
``(8) The source and amount of all money, other than that
received from the United States government, received in the
form of an expense account or as reimbursement for expenditures
from any source aggregating more than $250 during such period.
``(9) The source and amount of all waivers or partial
waivers of fees or charges accepted by the judge on behalf of
the judge or the judge's spouse, domestic partner, or guest
during such period.
``(b) For purposes of paragraphs (3) and (6) of subsection (a), the
categories of value set forth in this subsection are--
``(1) not more than $15,000;
``(2) greater than $15,000 but not more than $50,000;
``(3) greater than $50,000 but not more than $100,000;
``(4) greater than $100,000 but not more than $250,000;
``(5) greater than $250,000 but not more than $500,000;
``(6) greater than $500,000 but not more than $1,000,000;
``(7) greater than $1,000,000 but not more than $5,000,000;
``(8) greater than $5,000,000 but not more than
$25,000,000;
``(9) greater than $25,000,000 but not more than
$50,000,000; and
``(10) greater than $50,000,000.
``(c)(1) Reports filed pursuant to this section shall, upon written
request, and notice to the reporting judge for purposes of making an
application to the Commission for a redaction pursuant to paragraph
(2), be made available for public inspection and copying within a
reasonable time after filing and during the period they are kept by the
Commission (in accordance with rules promulgated by the Commission),
and shall be kept by the Commission for not less than three years.
``(2) This section does not require the public availability of
reports filed by a judge if upon application by the reporting judge, a
finding is made by the Commission that revealing personal and sensitive
information could endanger that judge or a family member of that judge,
except that a report may be redacted pursuant to this paragraph only--
``(A) to the extent necessary to protect the individual who
filed the report or a family member of that individual; and
``(B) for as long as the danger to such individual exists.
``(d) The intentional failure by a judge of a District of Columbia
court to file a report required by this section, or the filing of a
fraudulent report, shall constitute willful misconduct in office and
shall be grounds for removal from office under section 11-
1526(a)(2).''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to reports filed under section 11-1530, D.C.
Official Code, that cover periods beginning during or after 2016.
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