Inspectors general oversee most federal agencies. Why not the Supreme Court?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

IGs oversee most federal agencies. Why not the Supreme Court?


Glenn Fine.
Niles Singer/Harvard Staff Photographer

Liz Mineo
Harvard Staff Writer
October 31, 2024
5 min read

Inspector general would boost accountability, trust in federal judiciary, argues Glenn Fine in talk promoting new book, ‘Watchdogs’

Inspectors general are placed in most federal agencies to promote efficiency and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, and the U.S. Supreme Court would benefit from having one, said former inspector general of the Department of Justice Glenn Fine. ... There are 74 offices of inspectors general across the federal government, but the federal judiciary, which includes the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Courts, has none. With roughly 2,000 judges, 30,000 employees, and an $8 billion budget, the federal judiciary is a huge operation that lends itself to fraud and waste, which only an independent internal overseer can evaluate and investigate, said Fine ’78, J.D. ’85.

“Justices are human, and some may commit misconduct, and some may be accused of misconduct unfairly,” said Fine during a conversation with Jack Goldsmith, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. “I believe an inspector general would be good for the U.S. Supreme Court and it would help improve trust in the court.” ... Fine’s proposal for the Supreme Court was one of several he offered during the talk about his new book, “Watchdogs: Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government,” which highlights the critical role of inspectors general in promoting efficiency and government accountability.

Established by Congress in 1978, the office of inspector general and its role is still not well understood by the public or even by government officials, said Fine, who hopes his book underscores the critical work they do. As independent, nonpartisan overseers within their agencies, inspectors general can conduct audits, evaluations, and investigations to detect and deter waste, fraud, and abuse, providing an essential check and balance in government. IGs report to their agency heads and to Congress and must make public reports with recommendations.

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[ck4829]

1. Something definitely needs to be done about the Supreme Court Ethics Crisis

It's clear the SCOTUS can not self-manage.

[Ocelot II]

2. Because IGs oversee executive branch agencies. SCOTUS is judicial branch.

It's that separation of powers thing. I agree that SCOTUS needs some serious oversight but it would have to be through a judicial branch agency.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Yeah, but ...

Established by Congress in 1978, the office of inspector general and its role is still not well understood by the public or even by government officials, said Fine, who hopes his book underscores the critical work they do.

I'm sure the writer meant to say, "the office of inspector general and its role ARE still not well understood," but moving past that ...

If Congress can establish an office of IG for executive branch agencies, can it not also establish an office of IG for judicial branch entities?

Full disclosure: I sleep on a Harvard bedframe.

[Ocelot II]

4. Possibly, and if they can they should.

SCOTUS is a hot mess right now.