Judicial Conference Makes Changes to Judges' Financial Disclosure Reports, Conflict Screening Policy
The Judicial Conference voted to automate the release of judges' financial disclosure reports in a bid to increase transparency, federal courts announced March 15. Approving the new measures at its biannual meeting, the policymaking body also discussed ongoing efforts to establish an online platform to release judges' financial disclosure reports. The online system will include features needed for filing and redacting these reports, along with the feature of automating their release.
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The Conference amended its conflict screening policy, applying it to financial conflicts of interest. The new policy will require judges to submit a "Model Conflict Review Certification Statement" twice a year or more if required, confirming they reviewed their and their spouse's financial holdings. Additionally, the Conference expanded the scope of its audio streaming pilot project, authorizing participating courts to post audio recordings of livestreamed proceedings online for up to one year after the proceedings, U.S. Courts said. The Court of International Trade is participating in the pilot, along with 20 district courts, 13 bankruptcy courts and the Court of Federal Claims.