High Court Gift Ban Act

Key Points

• The bill bans federal judges and Supreme Court justices from accepting gifts worth more than $50 at once, or more than $100 total per year from the same source, aiming to reduce outside influence on court decisions.
• Gifts from family members, other judges, or honorary degrees and public service awards paid for by schools are exempt from the ban.
• Judges can still be reimbursed up to $2,000 for travel, food, and lodging at legal seminars, and can exceed that with written permission from the Chief Justice or a chief judge.
• Gifts given to a judge's relative count as gifts to the judge if the judge knew about it and believes it was given because of their position, closing a loophole where gifts could be routed through family.
• The Attorney General can bring civil lawsuits against violators, and knowing, willful violations carry criminal penalties, with courts given 180 days after enactment to write compliance regulations.