text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Judicial Transparency and Ethics 
  Enhancement Act of 2006''.
  
  SEC. 2. INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL BRANCH.
  
      (a) Creation and Duties.--Part III of title 28, United States Code, 
  is amended by adding at the end the following:
  
          ``CHAPTER 60--INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
  
  ``1021. Establishment.
  ``1022. Appointment of Inspector General.
  ``1023. Duties.
  ``1024. Powers.
  ``1025. Reports.
  ``1026. Whistleblower protection.
  ``Sec. 1021. Establishment
      ``There is established for the judicial branch of the Government 
  the Office of Inspector General for the Judicial Branch (hereinafter in 
  this chapter referred to as the `Office').
  ``Sec. 1022. Appointment of Inspector General
      ``The head of the Office shall be the Inspector General, 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 Representatives.
  ``Sec. 1023. Duties
      ``With respect to the Judicial Branch, other than the United States 
  Supreme Court, the Office shall--
              ``(1) conduct investigations of matters pertaining to the 
          Judicial Branch, including possible misconduct in office of 
          judges and proceedings under chapter 16 of this title, that may 
          require oversight or other action within the Judicial Branch or 
          by Congress;
              ``(2) conduct and supervise audits and investigations;
              ``(3) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse; and
              ``(4) recommend changes in laws or regulations governing 
          the Judicial Branch.
  ``Sec. 1024. Powers
      ``In carrying out the duties of the Office, the Inspector General 
  shall have the power--
              ``(1) to make investigations and reports;
              ``(2) to obtain information or assistance from any Federal, 
          State, or local governmental agency, or other entity, or unit 
          thereof, including all information kept in the course of 
          business by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the 
          judicial councils of circuits, the Administrative Office of the 
          United States Courts, and the United States Sentencing 
          Commission;
              ``(3) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance 
          and testimony of such witnesses, and the production of such 
          books, records, correspondence memoranda, papers, and 
          documents, which subpoena, in the case of contumacy or refusal 
          to obey, shall be enforceable by civil action;
              ``(4) to administer to or take from any person an oath, 
          affirmation, or affidavit;
              ``(5) to employ such officers and employees, subject to the 
          provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
          appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions of 
          chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title 
          relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates;
              ``(6) to obtain services as authorized by section 3109 of 
          title 5, United States Code, at daily rates not to exceed the 
          equivalent rate prescribed for grade GS-18 of the General 
          Schedule by section 5332 of title 5, United States Code; and
              ``(7) to the extent and in such amounts as may be provided 
          in advance by appropriations Acts, to enter into contracts and 
          other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and other 
          services with public agencies and with private persons, and to 
          make such payments as may be necessary to carry out the duties 
          of the Office.
  ``Sec. 1025. Reports
      ``(a) When to Be Made.--The Inspector General shall--
              ``(1) make an annual report to the Chief Justice and to 
          Congress relating to the activities of the Office; and
              ``(2) make prompt reports to the Chief Justice and to 
          Congress on matters that may require action by them.
      ``(b) Sensitive Matter.--If a report contains sensitive matter, the 
  Inspector General may so indicate and Congress may receive that report 
  in closed session.
      ``(c) Duty to Inform Attorney General.--In carrying out the duties 
  of the Office, 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 law.
  ``Sec. 1026. Whistleblower protection
      ``(a) In General.--No officer, employee, agent, contractor or 
  subcontractor in the Judicial Branch may discharge, demote, threaten, 
  suspend, harass 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 information, cause information to be 
  provided, or otherwise assist in an investigation regarding any 
  possible violation of Federal law or regulation, or misconduct, by a 
  judge or any other employee in the Judicial Branch, which may assist 
  the Inspector General in the performance of duties under this chapter.
      ``(b) Civil Action.--An employee injured by a violation of 
  subsection (a) may, in a civil action, obtain appropriate relief.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for part III of 
  title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
  following new item:
  
  ``60.  Inspector General for the Judicial Branch.''.
target: Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act of 2006 - Amends the federal judicial code to establish the Office of Inspector General for the Judicial Branch of the U.S. government, to be headed by an Inspector General appointed by the Chief Justice.
  
  Requires the Office to: (1) investigate matters pertaining to the Judicial Branch (other than the Supreme Court), including possible misconduct in office of justices and judges; (2) conduct and supervise audits and investigations; and (3) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse.
  
  Provides for whistleblower protection.
feat_title: To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for the detection and prevention of inappropriate conduct in the Federal judiciary.