Bill · S. 1143· Senate(119-S-1143)
Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 3/26/2025
- Last activity
- 3/26/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Bill Cassidy
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Stop Supreme Court Leakers Act of 2025" aims to amend title 18 of the United States Code. It seeks to establish penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information by Supreme Court officers or employees. The bill defines confidential information to include internal notes, communications involving justices, draft opinions, and certain personal information. It prohibits these individuals from knowingly publishing or disclosing such information during their employment. Violators could face imprisonment of up to 10 years and specific fines.
Yes
Does this give the federal government more power?+5
The bill expands federal criminal law to regulate internal Supreme Court operations.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?+3
The bill protects the personal information of Supreme Court justices.
The opposite
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?-5
The bill restricts the disclosure of internal communications and draft opinions.
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?-4
The bill imposes criminal penalties on employees for disclosing specific information.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of Supreme Court Deliberations: The bill establishes penalties for disclosing internal notes, communications, and draft opinions, which serves to prevent the unauthorized release of sensitive information (Section 2(a)).
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Security of Personal Information: The act includes protections for the personal information of the Chief Justice or an associate justice that is not otherwise available to the public (Section 2(a)(5)).
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Strict Accountability: By providing for criminal penalties, including potential imprisonment of up to 10 years, the bill creates a legal deterrent against the disclosure of confidential information (Section 2(a)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Penalties for Employees: Officers or employees of the Supreme Court face the risk of imprisonment for up to 10 years and fines if they are found to have knowingly disclosed information defined as confidential (Section 2(a)(2) and (3)).
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Specific Fines for Note-Taking: Individuals who disclose internal notes taken by a Supreme Court employee could face a specific fine of $10,000 (Section 2(a)(3)(2)).
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Broad Discretionary Power: The Chief Justice has the power to designate any other information as confidential prior to a violation occurring (Section 2(a)(1)(6)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+5Improves Privacy Rights+3Improves Government Transparency-5Improves Freedom Of Speech-4
- 3/26/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi