Reading Room Document

Whether Antilobbying Statute Prohibits Federal Judges From Using Official Resources to Communicate With Members of Congress Concerning Proposed Legislation

This document addresses the issue of whether federal judges are prohibited from using their official resources to communicate with individual members of Congress about pending or proposed legislation. The conclusion reached is that this issue can only be resolved through the independent deliberations of the judicial branch. The document presents questions for review regarding the interpretation of the antilobbying statute, the limitations on communication between federal judges and Congress, and the implications of judges providing informal advice to members of Congress in their official capacity. It also discusses the constraints and considerations specific to the judicial branch that need to be taken into account when addressing this issue.

January 30, 1978