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S 653 102th Congress Senate

A bill to prohibit injunctive relief, or an award of costs, including attorney's fees, against a judicial officer for action taken in a judicial capacity.

Introduced: March 13, 1991 See on congress.gov
Law Administrative responsibilityCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCivil actions and liabilityInjunctions
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
JudgesJudicial officersLegal feesPrivileges and immunities
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 20, 1991
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 336.
Nov 20, 1991
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden without amendment. With written report No. 102-224. Minority views filed.
Oct 31, 1991
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jun 19, 1991
Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice. Approved for full committee consideration without amendment without recommendation.
Apr 2, 1991
Referred to Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice.
Mar 13, 1991
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mar 13, 1991
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action November 20, 1991

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 336.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards Act of 1976 and other Federal civil rights law to provide that a judicial official (includes both State and Federal judges) shall not be liable for any costs, including attorney fees, or injunctive relief in any proceeding brought against the official for an act or omission committed in his or her judicial capacity. Creates an exception if the action was clearly in excess of the official's jurisdiction or, in the case of injunctive relief, if a declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 653: A bill to prohibit injunctive relief, or an award of costs, including attorney's fees, against a judicial officer for action taken in a judicial capacity.. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-S-653/
MLA
"S. 653: A bill to prohibit injunctive relief, or an award of costs, including attorney's fees, against a judicial officer for action taken in a judicial capacity.." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-S-653/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 653, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-S-653/.
Markdown link
[S. 653: A bill to prohibit injunctive relief, or an award of costs, including attorney's fees, against a judicial officer for action taken in a judicial capacity.](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-S-653/)
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