Federal

Leak and Lose Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 367 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill makes it illegal to hide, remove, damage, erase or destroy a Supreme Court opinion or draft opinion before the Supreme Court publishes it. The bill also applies to anyone who tries to take and carry away these documents from the Supreme Court building, including taking them electronically.

Who It Affects

Anyone who unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys a Supreme Court opinion or draft opinion before it is published. This includes people who take or carry away these documents from the Supreme Court building.

Key Provisions

• A person who willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys a Supreme Court opinion or draft opinion before the Supreme Court publishes it must pay a fine of $5,000. (Sec. 2) • A person who attempts to conceal, remove, mutilate, obliterate, or destroy a Supreme Court opinion or draft opinion before it is published must pay a fine of $5,000. (Sec. 2) • A person who takes and carries away a Supreme Court opinion or draft opinion (including electronically) from the Supreme Court building before it is published must pay a fine of $5,000. (Sec. 2) • A person convicted under this law forfeits their admission to all Federal courts and becomes ineligible for admission to a Federal court for the remainder of their life, if applicable. (Sec. 2)

What Changes

A new criminal penalty is added to federal law making it a crime to hide, remove, damage, or destroy unpublished Supreme Court opinions or drafts. People convicted face a $5,000 fine and permanent ban from practicing in federal courts.

Important Definitions

None defined

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 441 To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to the concealment, removal, or mutilation of a Supreme Court opinion or draft opinion, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 20, 2023 Mr. TIMMONS (for himself, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. FRY, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. ADER- HOLT, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. GUEST, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, and Ms. MACE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to the concealment, removal, or mutilation of a Supreme Court opinion or draft opinion, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Leak and Lose Act 4 of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:11 Feb 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H441.IH H441 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 441 IH SEC. 2. CONCEALMENT, REMOVAL, OR MUTILATION OF SU- 1 PREME COURT OPINION OR DRAFT OPINION. 2 Section 2071 of title 18, United States Code, is 3 amended by adding at the end the following new sub- 4 section: 5 ‘‘(c) Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, re- 6 moves, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to 7 do so, or, with intent to do so takes and carries away (in- 8 cluding electronically) from a building in which the Su- 9 preme Court conducts business, any opinion or draft opin- 10 ion of a case being heard by the Supreme Court, prior 11 to the date on which such opinion is published by the Su- 12 preme Court, shall be fined $5000, and if applicable, shall 13 forfeit their admission to all Federal courts and shall be 14 ineligible for admission to a Federal court for the remain- 15 der of their life.’’. 16 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:11 Feb 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H441.IH H441 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.