This Act may be cited as the “Judicial Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act of 2022”.

(a) Required divestments of conflicted assets.—

(1) STOCKS AND SECURITIES.—No judge or justice may own an interest in or trade (except a divestment required or approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States) any stock, bond, commodity, future, and other form of security, including an interest in a hedge fund, a derivative, option, or other complex investment vehicle, except nonconflicted assets allowed under subsection (b).

(2) COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.—No judge or justice may maintain ownership in commercial real estate, unless ownership of such commercial real estate is necessary for an entity described in paragraph (4)(C).

(3) TRUSTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—No judge or justice may maintain a financial interest in any trust, including a family trust, if the Judicial Conference of the United States determines that the trust includes any—

(i) asset that might present a conflict of interest; or

(ii) stock, bond, commodity, future, and other form of security, including an interest in a hedge fund, a derivative, option, or other complex investment vehicle, except nonconflicted assets allowed under subsection (b).

(B) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a trust described in section 102(f)(2) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).

(4) BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES.—

(A) PRIVATELY OWNED OR CLOSELY HELD CORPORATION.—No judge or justice may maintain ownership in a privately owned or closely held corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business enterprise.

(B) BOARD MEMBERS.—No judge or justice may serve on the board of directors of any for-profit entity, including any corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business enterprise.

(C) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not apply to a corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business enterprise that has gross receipts for the previous taxable year of less than $5,000,000.

(b) Nonconflicted assets.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—A judge or justice may maintain assets that do not present a conflict of interest, including—

(A) a widely held investment fund—

(i) described in section 102(f)(8) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.);

(ii) that meets the requirements described in paragraph (2); and

(iii) that is diversified because the fund does not have a stated policy of concentrating the investments of the fund in any industry, business, single country other than the United States, or bonds of any single State;

(B) noncommercial real estate, including real estate used solely as a personal residence;

(C) cash, certificates of deposit, or other forms of savings accounts;

(D) a federally managed asset, including—

(i) financial interests in or income derived from—

(I) any retirement system under title 5, United States Code (including the Thrift Savings Plan under subchapter III of chapter 84 of such title); or

(II) any other retirement system maintained by the United States for officers or employees of the United States, including the President, or for members of the uniformed services;

(ii) benefits received under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); and

(iii) an asset in the Federal Employee Investment Account described in paragraph (3);

(E) bonds, bills, and notes issued by governmental sources, such as the Federal Government, State, or other municipality;

(F) shares of Settlement Common Stock issued under section 7(g)(1)(A) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1606(g)(1)(A)); and

(G) shares of Settlement Common Stock, as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602).

(2) WIDELY HELD INVESTMENT FUND REQUIREMENTS.—A judge or justice may not maintain a widely held investment fund described in section 102(f)(8) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), unless—

(A) the widely held investment fund is diversified, as described in paragraph (1)(A)(iii);

(B) the widely held investment fund does not present a conflict of interest; and

(C) any instructions to a manager of the widely held investment fund are shared with the Judicial Conference of the United States.

(3) FEDERAL EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT ACCOUNT.—Section 8472 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(A) in subsection (f)—

(i) in paragraph (2), by striking “and” at the end;

(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(4) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, establish Federal Employee Investment Accounts in the Treasury of the United States accounts for judges and justices to maintain investments in the stock and securities markets in which a judge or justice may—

“(A) sell an asset or security, including those assets or securities that present a conflict of interest under section 2(a) of the Judicial Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act of 2022, and invest the resulting funds into the Federal Employee Investment Accounts; and

“(B) withdraw funds from their Federal Employee Investment Account at any time;

“(5) act in the interest of the plan participants and beneficiaries of Federal Employee Investment Accounts when making decisions for the purpose of providing benefits to those participants and beneficiaries;

“(6) establish a new and parallel system for recordkeeping with respect to Federal Employee Investment Accounts; and

“(7) establish a Federal Employee Investment Fund to fully cover administrative costs associated with managing Federal Employee Investment Accounts, which—

“(A) shall be separate from the Thrift Savings Fund established under section 8437, except with respect to administrative costs for common resources; and

“(B) may be used for compensation to pay new employees, additional resources for information technology, additional call center capacity, and any other new capacity to handle the administration of Federal Employee Investment Accounts.”;

(B) in subsection (g)(1)—

(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;

(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(E) promulgate regulations for the administration of Federal Employee Investment Accounts.”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(k) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to establish and maintain Federal Employee Investment Accounts established under subsection (f), including for the purpose of reducing any fees paid by participants in the Federal Employee Investment Accounts.”.

(c) Civil fines.—The Attorney General or the Special Counsel may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any judge or justice who engages in conduct constituting a violation of this section and, upon proof of such conduct by a preponderance of the evidence, such judge or justice shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for each violation. The imposition of a civil penalty under this subsection does not preclude any other criminal or civil statutory, common law, or administrative remedy, which is available by law to the United States or any other person.

(a) In general.—Section 7353 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “anything of value” and inserting “a gift”; and

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “and” at the end;

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) the term ‘gift’ means anything of value, including transportation, travel, lodgings and meals, whether provided in-kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.”.

(b) Regulations.—The Judicial Conference of the United States shall promulgate regulations to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a) with respect to the judicial branch.

(a) Judicial Education Fund.—

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 42 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter 42 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“630. Judicial Education Fund.”.

(b) Private judicial seminar gifts prohibited.—

(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection—

(A) the term “gift” has the meaning given that term under section 7353 of title 5, United States Code, as amended by section 3;

(B) the term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)); and

(C) the terms “national bar association”, “private judicial seminar”, and “State or local bar association” have the meanings given those terms under section 630 of title 28, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

(2) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Judicial Conference of the United States shall promulgate regulations to apply section 7353(a) of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit the solicitation or acceptance of a gift in connection with a private judicial seminar.

(3) EXCEPTION.—The prohibition under the regulations promulgated under paragraph (2) shall not apply if—

(A) the judge or justice participates in a private judicial seminar as a speaker, panel participant, or otherwise presents information;

(B) Federal judges and justices are not the primary audience at the private judicial seminar; and

(C) the gift accepted is—

(i) reimbursement from the private judicial seminar sponsor of reasonable transportation, food, or lodging expenses on any day on which the judge or justice speaks, participates, or presents information, as applicable;

(ii) attendance at the private judicial seminar on any day on which the judge or justice speaks, participates, or presents information, as applicable; or

(iii) anything excluded from the definition of a gift under regulations of the Judicial Conference of the United States under sections 7351 and 7353 of title 5, United States Code, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

(a) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that in order for justices and judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, to hold their offices during “good behaviour” under section 1 of article III of the Constitution of the United States, the judges and justices shall, among other requirements, adhere to the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States described in this section.

(b) Applicability.—The Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States shall apply to the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States to the same extent as such Code applies to circuit and district judges.

(c) Enforcement.—The Judicial Conference shall establish procedures, modeled after the procedures set forth in chapter 16 of title 28, United States Code, under which—

(1) complaints alleging that a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States has violated the Code of Conduct referred to in subsection (a) may be filed with or identified by the Conference;

(2) such material, nonfrivolous complaints and any accompanying material are immediately referred to the Supreme Court Review Committee established in section 10; and

(3) further action, where appropriate, is taken by the Conference, with respect to such complaints.

(d) Submission to Congress; effective date.—

(1) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Judicial Conference shall submit to Congress the procedures established under subsection (b).

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The procedures established under subsection (b) shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

(a) Recusal decisions.—Section 455 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(g) Recusal lists.—

“(1) Each justice, judge, and magistrate judge of the United States shall maintain and submit to the Judicial Conference a list of each association or interest that would require the justice, judge, or magistrate to be recused under subsection (b)(4), including any financial interests of the judge, the spouse of the judge, or any minor child of the judge residing in the household of the judge.

“(2) The Judicial Conference shall maintain and make publicly available online, at no cost, each list required under this subsection that is filed with the Judicial Conference in a format that is searchable, sortable, machine-readable, downloadable, and accessible format, and accessible in multiple languages and to individuals with disabilities.

“(3) The Judicial Conference may issue public or private guidance to justices, judges, and magistrate judges of the United States regarding the contents of the lists under this subsection to ensure such lists comply with the disqualification requirements of (b)(4).”.

(b) Speeches.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each justice, judge, and magistrate judge of the United States shall maintain and submit to the Judicial Conference of the United States a copy of each speech or other significant oral communication made by the justice, judge, or magistrate.

(2) AVAILABILITY.—The Judicial Conference of the United States shall maintain and make each speech or other significant oral communication submitted under paragraph (1) available to the public in printed form, upon request, and online, at no cost, in a format that is searchable, sortable, machine-readable, downloadable, and accessible in multiple languages and to individuals with disabilities.

(3) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Judicial Conference of the United States shall promulgate regulations regarding the types of oral communications that are required to be maintained, submitted, and made publicly available under this subsection.

(c) Livestreaming judicial proceedings.—

(1) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term “appellate court of the United States” means any United States circuit court of appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

(2) STREAMING OF COURT PROCEEDINGS.—In accordance with procedures established by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the audio of each open session conducted by an appellate court of the United States shall be made available online contemporaneously with the session, unless the appellate court of the United States, by a majority vote, determines that making audio of the session available online would violate the constitutional rights or threaten the safety of any party to the proceeding.

(d) Publicizing case assignment information.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Judicial Conference of the United States shall promulgate regulations requiring each court of the United States to make case assignment data available to the public online, at no cost, in a format that is searchable, sortable, machine-readable, downloadable, and accessible in multiple languages and to individuals with disabilities.

(2) CONTENTS.—The case assignment data made available under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, and to the extent available, the case title, docket number, case origin, filing date, and name of each authoring judge, concurring judge, and dissenting judge for each opinion issued in the case.

(e) Making websites user-Friendly.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Judicial Conference of the United States shall promulgate regulations requiring an evaluation of, and improvements to, the website of each district court of the United States to ensure the website is easy to understand, including that it is clear how to file a complaint relating to a judge or an employee of the district court.

(f) Accessibility.—The Judicial Conference shall make efforts to ensure that any disclosures required under this section are made available to the public in plain language, in a variety of languages, and accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Section 455 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by section 6 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(a) Complaints.—Section 351(d) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

“(1) the term ‘judge’—

“(A) means a circuit judge, district judge, bankruptcy judge, or magistrate judge; and

“(B) includes a retired judge described in subparagraph (A);”;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) the term ‘retired judge’ means any judge of the United States who has retired from regular active service under section 371(b) or 372(a).”.

(b) Review of complaint by chief judge.—Section 352 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(e) Definition.—In this section, the term ‘intervening events’ does not include the retirement of the judge whose conduct is complained of or the nomination or confirmation of the judge to the Supreme Court of the United States.”.

Section 354 of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) REVIEW COMMITTEE.—The term “Review Committee” means the Supreme Court Complaints Review Committee.

(2) CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER.—The term “close family member” includes—

(A) a parent of the reporting individual;

(B) a spouse of the reporting individual; and

(C) an adult child of the reporting individual.

(b) Establishment.—For the purpose of assisting the House of Representatives in carrying out its responsibilities under section 2 of article I and section 4 of article II of the Constitution of the United States, there is established in the legislative branch to be known as the Supreme Court Complaints Review Committee under the general supervision of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

(c) Members.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Review Committee shall consist of 5 members, of whom—

(A) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(B) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and

(C) 1 shall be appointed by agreement of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

(2) QUALIFICATIONS OF REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS.—

(A) EXPERTISE.—Each member of the Review Committee shall be an individual of exceptional public standing who is specifically qualified to serve on the Review Committee by virtue of the individual’s education, training, or experience in 1 or more of the following fields:

(i) Constitutional law.

(ii) Impeachment.

(iii) Judicial ethics.

(iv) Professional ethics.

(v) Legal history.

(vi) Judicial service.

(B) SELECTION BASIS.—Selection and appointment of each member of the Review Committee shall be without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of a member of the Review Committee.

(C) CITIZENSHIP.—Each member of the Review Committee shall be a United States citizen.

(D) DISQUALIFICATIONS.—No individual shall be eligible for appointment to, or service on, the Review Committee who—

(i) has ever been registered, or required to be registered, as a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);

(ii) engages in, or is otherwise employed in, lobbying of the Congress;

(iii) is registered or is required to be registered as an agent of a foreign principal under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.);

(iv) is a currently serving judge, justice, or employee of the Federal courts;

(v) is an officer or employee of the Federal Government;

(vi) is a close family member of any judge or justice of the Federal courts;

(vii) during the 4 years preceding the date of appointment, engaged in any significant political activity (including being a candidate for public office, fundraising for a candidate for public office or a political party, or serving as an officer or employee of a political campaign or party);

(viii) during the 2 years preceding the date of appointment, served as a fiduciary or personal attorney for a judge, justice, or employee of the Federal courts, including any judge or justice; or

(ix) any currently serving Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.

(3) TERM AND REMOVAL.—

(A) LENGTH OF TERM.—The term of a member of the Review Committee shall be for 2 Congresses.

(B) TERM LIMITS.—A member of the Review Committee may not serve during 4 consecutive Congresses.

(C) REMOVAL.—A member of the Review Committee may be removed upon unanimous agreement among the Speaker and the minority leader of the House of Representatives or by an affirmative vote of ²⁄3 of the members of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

(D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy on the Review Committee shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner, and by the same appointing authority, as the original appointment under paragraph (2).

(d) Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Review Committee shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson of the Review Committee by a majority vote. The chairperson and the vice-chairperson shall serve a 1-year term, and may be reelected for additional 1-year terms.

(2) DUTIES.—The chairperson of the Review Committee shall preside at the meetings of the Review Committee, and the vice-chairperson shall preside in the absence or disability of the chairperson.

(e) Meetings.—

(1) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Review Committee shall constitute a quorum.

(2) MEETINGS.—The Review Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson, the chair of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, or the call of a majority of its members, pursuant to the rules of the Review Committee.

(3) VOTING.—Except as otherwise specifically provided, a majority vote of the Review Committee under this subtitle shall require an affirmative vote of 3 or more members.

(f) Compensation.—A member of the Review Committee shall not be considered to be an officer or employee of the House or Senate, but shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the minimum annual rate of basic pay prescribed for GS–15 of the General Schedule under section 5107 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Review Committee.

(g) Duties of review committee.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Review Committee shall review each complaint made against the Chief Justice of the United States or a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States through the review process described in subsection (m).

(2) HEARINGS.—The Review Committee may hold such hearings as are necessary and may sit and act only in executive session at such times and places, solicit such testimony, and receive such relevant evidence, as may be necessary to carry out its duties.

(h) Financial disclosure reports.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the Review Committee shall file an annual financial disclosure report with the Clerk of the House of Representatives on or before May 15 of each calendar year immediately following any year in which the member served on the Review Committee. Each such report shall be on a form prepared by the Clerk that is substantially similar to the form required for individuals at the executive branch who must complete a confidential financial disclosure report under section 102 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).

(2) DISTRIBUTION OF REPORT.—The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall—

(A) not later than 7 days after the date each financial disclosure report under paragraph (1) is filed, send a copy of each such report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and

(B) annually print all such financial disclosure reports as a document of Congress, and make the document available to the public.

(i) Duties and powers of the Review Committee.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Review Committee is authorized—

(A) to establish a process for receiving and reviewing complaints from any person regarding allegations of misconduct by a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States;

(B) to conduct a review of material complaints regarding alleged misconduct by a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; and

(C) in any case where the Review Committee determines, on the basis of the review described in subsection (m), that a justice may have engaged in conduct which might violate the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States or constitute 1 or more grounds for impeachment under article II of the Constitution of the United States, or which, in the interest of justice, is not amenable to resolution by the Review Committee, the Review Committee shall promptly certify such determination, together with any complaint and a record of any associated proceedings to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

(2) REFERRALS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Upon a majority vote of the Review Committee, the Review Committee may refer potential legal violations committed by a justice to the Department of Justice or other relevant Federal or State law enforcement officials, which referral shall include all appropriate evidence gathered during any review or preliminary investigation conducted under this subtitle.

(B) NOTIFICATION.—The Review Committee shall notify the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives of all referrals under this subsection.

(3) LIMITATIONS ON REVIEW.—No review may be undertaken by the Review Committee of any complaint—

(A) that is primarily concerned with challenging the merits of a decision or procedural ruling;

(B) that is frivolous, lacking sufficient evidence to raise an inference that misconduct has occurred, or containing allegations that are incapable of being established through investigation;

(C) concerning any alleged violation of law, rule, regulation or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of the alleged violation; or

(D) concerning any alleged violation that occurred before the date of enactment of this Act.

(j) Prohibition on public disclosure.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—

(A) PROHIBITION ON PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.—No information obtained by a member or employee of the Review Committee regarding complaints shall be publicly disclosed to any person or entity outside the Review Committee, unless approved by a majority vote of the Review Committee. Any communication to any person or entity outside the Review Committee may occur only as authorized by the Review Committee.

(B) PROCEDURES AND INVESTIGATION.—The Review Committee shall establish, in consultation with relevant agencies, procedures necessary to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of any information received by the Review Committee. Any breaches of confidentiality shall be investigated by the Review Committee and appropriate action shall be taken, which may include a recommendation to Congress for removal pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(C).

(2) PROVISION WITH RESPECT TO HOUSE AND SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEES.—Paragraph (1) shall not preclude—

(A) any member or employee of the Review Committee from presenting a report or findings of the Committee, or testifying before the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, if requested by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives pursuant to its rules;

(B) any necessary communication with the Department of Justice or any other law enforcement agency; or

(C) any necessary communication with the Speaker or minority leader of the House of Representatives or the majority leader or minority leader of the Senate.

(3) OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT.—Before the Review Committee votes on a recommendation or statement to be transmitted to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives relating to a complaint involving a justice, the Review Committee shall provide the justice whose conduct is the subject of the complaint the opportunity to present, orally or in writing (at the discretion of the justice), a statement to the Review Committee.

(k) Presentation of reports to the House Judiciary Committee.—Whenever the Review Committee transmits any report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives relating to a complaint involving a justice, the Review Committee shall designate a member or employee of the Review Committee to present the report to the House Judiciary Committee if requested by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

(l) Maintaining of financial disclosure reports.—The Review Committee shall receive, and maintain, a copy of each report filed under section 101 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) by a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

(m) Complaints.—

(1) SOURCE OF COMPLAINTS.—Any person, including a judge, justice, or employee of the courts of the United States, may file with the Review Committee a complaint alleging a violation by a justice of any law (including any regulation), rule, or other standard of conduct, including the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, applicable to the conduct of such justice in the performance of the duties, or the discharge of the responsibilities, of the justice.

(2) FALSE CLAIMS AND STATEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT.—Any complaint submission under paragraph (1) shall include a signed statement acknowledging that the person submitting the allegation or information understands that section 1001 of title 18, United States Code (popularly known as the “False Statements Act”) applies to the information.

(3) REVIEW PROCESS OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS BY A JUSTICE.—

(A) REVIEW AUTHORIZATION.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—After receiving a complaint under paragraph (1), the Review Committee may, by majority vote, authorize a review under subparagraph (B) of any alleged violation by a justice of any law (including any regulation), rule, or other standard of conduct, including the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, applicable to the conduct of such justice in the performance of the duties, or the discharge of the responsibilities, of the justice.

(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—The authorization under clause (i) shall—

(I) be in writing; and

(II) include a brief description of the specific matter and an explanation of why allegations in complaint meet the criteria in subsection (i)(3).

(B) REVIEW PROCESS.—

(i) INITIATION AND NOTIFICATION OF REVIEW.—After the date on which the Review Committee makes an authorization under subparagraph (A), the Review Committee shall—

(I) initiate a review of the alleged violation; and

(II) provide a written notification of the commencement of the review, including a statement of the nature of the review, to—

(aa) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and

(bb) the justice who is the subject of the review.

(ii) OPPORTUNITY TO TERMINATE REVIEW.—At any time, the Review Committee may, by a majority vote, terminate a review on any ground, including that the matter under review is de minimis in nature. If the Review Committee votes to terminate the review, the Committee shall—

(I) notify, in writing, the complainant, the justice who was the subject of the review, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives of its decision to terminate the review of the matter; and

(II) send a report, including any findings of the Review Committee, to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

(C) SCOPE OF REVIEW.—During a review, the Review Committee shall evaluate the complaint and determine, based on a majority vote, whether the misconduct alleged in the complaint, if true, may constitute “Treason, Bribery, and other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” under section 4 of article II of the Constitution of the United States.

(D) COMPLETION OF REVIEW.—Upon the completion of any review, the Review Committee shall—

(i) transmit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a written report that includes—

(I) a statement of the nature of the review and the justice who is the subject of the review;

(II) the Review Committee’s determination under paragraph (3);

(III) a description of the number of members voting in the affirmative and in the negative for the determination under subparagraph (C);

(IV) any relevant findings of the Review Committee, including—

(aa) any findings of fact;

(bb) a description of any relevant information that the Review Committee was unable to obtain or witnesses whom the Review Committee was unable to interview, and the reasons therefor; and

(cc) a citation of any relevant law, regulation, or standard of conduct relating to the alleged misconduct;

(V) any supporting documentation;

(VI) a written determination of whether the misconduct alleged in the complaint, if true, may constitute “Treason, Bribery, and other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” under section 4 of article II of the Constitution of the United States; and

(VII) if necessary, a brief statement of dissent from the members of the Review Committee voting in the negative for the determination under subparagraph (C); and

(ii) transmit to the complainant and the justice who is the subject of the review the written report of the Review Committee described in clause (i).

(n) House Judiciary Committee Consideration of Review Committee Report.—If the Review Committee determines, after a review, that misconduct alleged in a complaint, if true, may constitute “Treason, Bribery, and other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” under section 4 of article II of the Constitution of the United States, not later than 30 legislative days of continuous session in the House of Representatives after the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives receives a report under subsection (m), the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives shall vote on whether to proceed with an investigation or an impeachment inquiry.

(o) Request from House Judiciary Committee.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon receipt of a written request from the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that the Review Committee cease its review of any matter and refer such matter to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives because of the ongoing investigation of the matter by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, the Review Committee shall refer such matter to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, cease its review of that matter and so notify any justice who is the subject of the review.

(2) RESUMPTION OF REVIEW.—If the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives notifies the Review Committee in writing that the Review Committee may continue its review of the complaint, the Review Committee may begin or continue, as the case may be, a review of the matter.

(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the Review Committee from sending any information regarding the matter to law enforcement agencies.

(p) Procedures.—

(1) REVIEW POWERS.—Members or employees of the Review Committee may, during a review—

(A) administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, or affidavit;

(B) obtain information or assistance from any Federal, State, or local governmental agency, or other entity, or unit thereof, including all information kept in the course of business by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the judicial councils of circuits, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and the United States Sentencing Commission;

(C) take the deposition of witnesses; and

(D) submit to the chair of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a request for the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives to require by subpoena the attendance of and testimony by witnesses and the production of any book, check, canceled check, correspondence, communication, document, email, paper, physical evidence, record, recording, tape, or other material (including electronic records) relating to any matter or question the Review Committee is authorized to review from any individual or entity, which—

(i) shall be handled in accordance with the rules of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and

(ii) may allow for the transmission of information or testimony between the Review Committee and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, in accordance with rules of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

(2) PROHIBITION OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS.—There shall be no ex parte communications between any member or employee of the Review Committee and any justice who is the subject of any review by the Review Committee or between any member of the Review Committee and any interested party.

(3) OTHER REVIEW COMMITTEE RULES AND PROCEDURES.—The Review Committee is authorized to establish any additional rules or procedures pursuant to its duties and powers in paragraph (1) necessary to carry out the functions of the Review Committee in accordance with this section.

(q) Personnel matters.—

(1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES.—The Review Committee may appoint and fix the compensation of such professional, nonpartisan staff (including staff with relevant experience in investigations and law enforcement) of the Review Committee as it considers necessary to perform its duties, who—

(A) shall perform all official duties in a nonpartisan manner; and

(B) may not engage in any partisan political activity directly affecting any congressional or presidential election, or any nomination of a Federal judge or justice.

(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Each employee of the Review Committee shall be professional and demonstrably qualified for the position for which the employee is hired.

(3) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEES.—The employment of an employee of the Review Committee may be terminated at any time by the Review Committee.

(4) CODE OF CONDUCT.—The Review Committee shall establish a code of conduct to govern the behavior of the members or employees of the Review Committee, which shall include the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

(r) Authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.

Section 355(b) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(a) In general.—Chapter 111 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(b) Technical and conforming amendment.—The table of sections for chapter 111 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 1659 the following:

“1660. Restrictions on protective orders and sealing of cases and settlements.”.

(c) Effective date.—The amendments made by this section shall—

(1) take effect 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2) apply only to orders entered in civil actions or agreements entered into on or after such date.

(a) In general.—Chapter 21 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(b) Technical and conforming amendment.—The table of sections for chapter 21 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“464. Judicial workplace climate surveys.”.

If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and of the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the remaining provisions of this Act and amendments to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected.