Judicial FOIA Expansion Act

This legislation aims to significantly increase transparency within the federal judiciary by applying the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act to most courts and judicial entities. It broadens the definition of "agency" under these acts to include the Supreme Court, appellate and district courts, the Administrative Office, and other related bodies, though it specifically excludes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The bill mandates public access to various judicial records, including attorney disciplinary proceedings (excluding deliberations), complaints and investigations against judges or court personnel, and judge performance reports . It also requires the release of Federal Judicial Conference meeting details, Federal Judicial Center research, and completed jury selection forms, with all released information needing to be machine-readable . Exemptions are provided for ongoing cases and information not possessed by the courts, and the Attorney General will represent courts in related legal claims. To support these changes, the bill authorizes $10 million for fiscal year 2027, including funds for a new office within the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.