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The House Appropriations Committee report for the
1999 Judiciary Appropriations Bill
The Committee is aware of recent published accounts of Federal
judges attending educational seminars at the expense of organizations
which are, in turn, funded by individuals and groups that
may be involved in litigation in the Federal courts, and that
are relevant to the disposition of cases likely to involve
such individuals and groups. The Committee understands the
Judicial Conference's Code of Conduct for United States Judges
and relevant ethics laws may preclude reimbursement of judges'
expenses in connection with attendance at similar seminars
funded directly by such individuals and groups, rather than
by such an organization. The Committee understands the Judicial
Conference is reviewing this issue, and expects the review
to include the extent to which the sponsor-paid travel and
lodging for such seminars raise questions under applicable
portions of the Code of Conduct and the Ethics Reform Act
of 1989, and whether the Conference has adequate procedures
to determine the appropriateness of accepting travel, lodging,
and other expenses for such seminars and to advise judges
about their appropriateness.
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