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The problem of corporations and other special interests using expense-paid trips to lavish settings in a thinly-veiled attempt to lobby federal judges has been well documented. Numerous studies have detailed the serious conflicts of interest and perceptions of impropriety that can arise when judges attend these seminars or "junkets for judges," as they are commonly known. HALT, as well as other public interest groups, ethics experts and more than thirty editorial boards from across the political spectrum have strongly criticized these programs.
Data revealed in the Community Rights Counsel's groundbreaking 2000 report, Nothing for Free, demonstrates that that these junkets appear to be working as their sponsors intend, encouraging rulings that line the pockets of junket sponsors.
Recently, HALT made efforts to secure support from the Senate Judiciary Committee in establishing a public fund for the purpose of financing judicial seminars. All publicly funded seminars would be screened by the judiciary to ensure that the seminars are balanced. In addition, HALT urged the Committee to prohibit judges from accepting gifts all seminars - public or private. As a result of the efforts of HALT and other public interest groups, the United States Judicial Conference has agreed to consider these reforms.
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