[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUDICIAL FINANCIAL 
                        TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2016

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 1, 2016

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Judicial Financial Transparency Act of 2016, a bill that would enhance 
financial disclosure requirements for D.C. Court judges, making them 
similar to the disclosure requirements already in place for Article III 
federal judges. Although current federal law does require D.C. Superior 
Court and D.C. Court of Appeals judges to file annual financial 
reports, much of the information included in those reports remains 
confidential. For example, while judges are required to submit 
information about their income, investments, liabilities, and gifts, 
current law only makes public judges' connections to charities, private 
organizations, and businesses, and honorariums that are more than $300. 
My bill would bring some much-needed transparency to the D.C. Courts by 
making all of this information--except for a judge's personally 
identifiable information--available for public inspection.
  This legislation is particularly necessary because open government 
advocates have found the D.C. Courts to be seriously lacking in 
transparency. In fact, a 2014 survey by the Center for Public Integrity 
that took a comprehensive look at each state's judicial financial 
disclosure rules, gave the District a failing grade. D.C. Court judges 
already submit enough financial information to improve the District's 
standing--my bill would make it public.
  Only Congress can make these necessary changes. I urge my colleagues 
to support this good government bill, to improve transparency for 
judges in the District of Columbia.

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