,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ege ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ad1 #bjac ,mr4 ,grassley introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide an ,inspector ,general for the judicial branch1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,judicial ,transparency and ,ethics ,enhancement ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,inspector general for the judicial branch 7a7 ,establishment and ,duties ,part ,,iii of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #fj ,,inspector ,,general ,,for ,,the ,,judicial ,,branch ,sec4 #ajba4 ,establishment4 #ajbb4 ,appointment1 term1 and removal of ,inspector ,general4 #ajbc4 ,duties4 #ajbd4 ,powers4 #ajbe4 ,reports4 #ajbf4 ,whistleblower protection4 #ajba4 ,establishment ,there is established for the judicial branch of the ,government the ,office of ,inspector ,general for the ,judicial ,branch 7in this chapter referred to as the ,office74 #ajbb4 ,appointment1 term1 and removal of ,inspector ,general 7a7 ,appointment ,the head of the ,office shall be the ,inspector ,general1 who shall be appointed by the ,chief ,justice of the ,united ,states after consultation with the majority and minority leaders of the ,senate and the ,speaker and minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives4 7b7 ,term ,the ,inspector ,general shall serve for a term of #d years and may be reappointed by the ,chief ,justice of the ,united ,states for any number of additional terms4 7c7 ,removal ,the ,inspector ,general may be removed from office by the ,chief ,justice of the ,united ,states4 ,the ,chief ,justice shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to both ,houses of ,congress4 #ajbc4 ,duties ,with respect to the judicial branch1 the ,office shall-- 7#a7 conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in the judicial branch 7other than the ,united ,states ,supreme ,court7 under chapter #af that may require oversight or other action within the judicial branch or by ,congress2 7#b7 conduct investigations of alleged misconduct in the ,united ,states ,supreme ,court that may require oversight or other action within the judicial branch or by ,congress2 7#c7 conduct and supervise audits and investigations2 7#d7 prevent and detect waste1 fraud1 and abuse2 and 7#e7 recommend changes in laws or regulations governing the judicial branch4 #ajbd4 ,powers 7a7 ,powers ,in carrying out the duties of the ,office1 the ,inspector ,general shall have the power to-- 7#a7 make investigations and reports2 7#b7 obtain information or assistance from any ,federal1 ,state1 or local governmental agency1 or other entity1 or unit thereof1 including all information kept in the course of business by the ,judicial ,conference of the ,united ,states1 the judicial councils of circuits1 the ,administrative ,office of the ,united ,states ,courts1 and the ,united ,states ,sentencing ,commission2 7#c7 require1 by subpoena or otherwise1 the attendance and testimony of such witnesses1 and the production of such books1 records1 correspondence1 memoranda1 papers1 and documents1 which subpoena1 in the case of contumacy or refusal to obey1 shall be enforceable by civil action2 7#d7 administer to or take from any person an oath1 affirmation1 or affidavit2 7#e7 employ such officers and employees1 subject to the provisions of title #e1 governing appointments in the competitive service1 and the provisions of chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of such title relating to classification and ,general ,schedule pay rates2 7#f7 obtain services as authorized by section #caji of title #e at daily rates not to exceed the equivalent rate for a position at level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of such title2 and 7#g7 the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriations ,acts1 to enter into contracts and other arrangements for audits1 studies1 analyses1 and other services with public agencies and with private persons1 and to make such payments as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the ,office4 7b7 ,chapter #af matters ,the ,inspector ,general shall not commence an investigation under section #ajbc7a7 until the denial of a petition for review by the judicial council of the circuit under section #ceb7;c7 of this title or upon referral or certification to the ,judicial ,conference of the ,united ,states of any matter under section #ced7;b7 of this title4 7c7 ,limitation ,the ,inspector ,general shall not have the authority to-- 7#a7 investigate or review any matter that is directly related to the merits of a decision or procedural ruling by any judge1 justice1 or court2 or 7#b7 punish or discipline any judge1 justice1 or court4 #ajbe4 ,reports 7a7 ,when ,to ,be ,made ,the ,inspector ,general shall-- 7#a7 make an annual report to the ,chief ,justice and to ,congress relating to the activities of the ,office2 and 7#b7 make prompt reports to the ,chief ,justice and to ,congress on matters that may require action by the ,chief ,justice or ,congress4 7b7 ,sensitive ,matter ,if a report contains sensitive matter1 the ,inspector ,general may so indicate and ,congress may receive that report in closed session4 7c7 ,duty ,to ,inform ,attorney ,general ,in carrying out the duties of the ,office1 the ,inspector ,general shall report expeditiously to the ,attorney ,general whenever the ,inspector ,general has reasonable grounds to believe there has been a violation of ,federal criminal law4 #ajbf4 ,whistleblower protection 7a7 ,in ,general ,no officer1 employee1 agent1 contractor1 or subcontractor in the judicial branch may discharge1 demote1 threaten1 suspend1 harass1 or in any other manner discriminate against an employee in the terms and conditions of employment because of any lawful act done by the employee to provide information1 cause information to be provided1 or otherwise assist in an investigation regarding any possible violation of ,federal law or regulation1 or misconduct1 by a judge1 justice1 or any other employee in the judicial branch1 which may assist the ,inspector ,general in the performance of duties under this chapter4 7b7 ,civil ,action ,an employee injured by a violation of subsection 7a7 may1 in a civil action1 obtain appropriate relief4 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendment ,the table of chapters for part ,,iii of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #fj4 ,inspector ,general for the judicial branch#ajba 4