A bill to provide that a person closely related to a judge of a court exercising judicial power under article III of the United States Constitution (other than the Supreme Court) may not be appointed as a judge of the same court, and for other purposes.
Became Public Law No: 105-300.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 31, 1998
Amends the Federal judicial code to prohibit the appointment, as a judge of a court exercising judicial power under article III of the Constitution (other than the Supreme Court), of any person who is related by affinity or consanguinity within the degree of first cousin to any judge who is a member of the same court. Defines "member" as an active judge or one retired in senior status.
Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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