H.R. 1811 — Judicial Ethics Enforcement Act of 2025

This section establishes the Office of Inspector General for the Judicial Branch within the judicial branch of government. The Inspector General is appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States after consultation with congressional leaders, serves a four-year term (reappointable), and may be removed by the Chief Justice (with reasons communicated to Congress). The office conducts and supervises audits and investigations of alleged misconduct in the judicial branch (excluding the merits of any judicial decision and without authority to discipline judges), including (1) matters under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act (chapter 16 of title 28, U.S. Code) after denial of review by a judicial council or referral to the Judicial Conference; (2) violations of the Code of Conduct for Supreme Court Justices; and (3) waste, fraud, and abuse, with authority to issue subpoenas, hire staff, and enter contracts as appropriated. The office submits annual and prompt reports to the Chief Justice and Congress (with sensitive matters potentially in closed session) and expeditiously reports suspected federal criminal violations to the Attorney General; it also protects judicial branch whistleblowers from retaliation in a civil action.