Skip to content
Govbase
Govbase
Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7692

Rep. Goldman Introduces Bill to Create Independent Ethics and Investigative Offices for Supreme Court Justices

Supreme Court Ethics and Investigations Act

28 days ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • The bill would create two new offices inside the Supreme Court: an Office of Ethics Counsel to advise justices on ethics matters, and an Office of Investigative Counsel to review and investigate ethics complaints against justices.

    From policy text

    “To amend title 28, United States Code, to establish an Office of Ethics Counsel and an Office of Investigative Counsel within the Supreme Court of the United States.”
    View in full text
  • The Ethics Counsel office would advise justices and their spouses on financial disclosures, gifts, political activity, conflicts of interest, and recusal. Every justice would be required to take ethics training every two years, and the office would report annually to Congress on what kind of advice was given and whether it was followed.

    From policy text

    “On a biannual basis, the Office of Ethics Counsel shall provide, and each justice shall take, a training course on the judicial ethics matters described in subsection (a)(2).”
    View in full text
  • Only top congressional leaders—such as the chairs and ranking members of the Judiciary Committees, or the Speaker and Senate leaders—could file ethics complaints that trigger an investigation. The Office of Investigative Counsel would have subpoena power to compel testimony and documents.

    From policy text

    “the Chief Investigative Counsel shall have the authority to issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to appear and testify and to produce books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, documents, or other relevant records.”
    View in full text
  • Investigation reports would go to the Chief Justice and to congressional committees within 10 days. Reports would include recommendations like recusal or divestment. If investigators find evidence of a federal crime, they must report it to the Attorney General.

    From policy text

    “the Investigative Counsel shall report expeditiously to the Attorney General whenever the Investigative Counsel has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of Federal criminal law.”
    View in full text
  • All counsels must be experienced attorneys not already employed by the Court, serving fixed terms. The chief counsels would earn at least $225,000 annually and can only be fired by the Chief Justice for cause, providing some insulation from political pressure.

    From policy text

    “The employment of a counsel may only be terminated by the Chief Justice for cause.”
    View in full text
Criminal JusticeCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 25, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Supreme Court Ethics and Investigations Act

Bill NumberHR 7692
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(9)
D: 9

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.