H.R. 7647 would require the Supreme Court and other federal courts to implement several ethics and transparency practices, and it would direct federal agencies to produce various studies and reports concerning the implementation of the bill’s requirements.
Using information from the affected agencies, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 7647 would cost $5 million over the 2022-2027 period; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
H.R. 7647 would require the Supreme Court to produce a code of conduct for justices and Court employees and to establish disclosure requirements for gifts, travel, and income received by justices and clerks. Using information from the Court, CBO estimates that implementing those provisions would cost about $1 million over the 2022-2027 period.
H.R. 7647 also contains several audit and reporting requirements. Under the bill, any party filing an amicus brief in a federal court would need to disclose the identifies of individuals and organizations that prepared the brief, as well as financial contributors to those entities. Each year, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC) would be required to audit and report on compliance with that requirement. The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) also would be required to track and report instances in which federal judges recuse themselves or are not assigned a case because of a conflict of interest. Every two years, the FJC would report on and recommend ways to improve compliance with the recusal requirements. Every five years, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would evaluate and report on the FJC’s methods.
