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S 581 105th Congress Senate

A bill to amend section 49 of title 28, United States Code, to limit the periods of service that a judge or justice may serve on the division of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of…

Official title: A bill to amend section 49 of title 28, United States Code, to limit the periods of service that a judge or justice may serve on the division of the United Sta… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend section 49 of title 28, United States Code, to limit the periods of service that a judge or justice may serve on the division of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to appoint independent counsels, and for for other purposes.

Introduced: April 15, 1997 Introduced by: Durbin, Richard J. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
Law Appellate courtsAppellate procedureCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCivil procedure
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Crime and Law EnforcementDistrict of ColumbiaFreedom of informationGovernment Operations and PoliticsJudicial review of administrative actsJudicial tenureSpecial prosecutors
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 15, 1998
Referred to Subcommittee on Oversight and Courts.
Apr 15, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Apr 15, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3212-3213)
Apr 15, 1997
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action May 15, 1998

Referred to Subcommittee on Oversight and Courts.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Federal judicial code to limit to two years the period that a judge or justice may serve on the division of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to appoint independent counsels. Provides an exception.

Requires the Circuit Judicial Council for the District to promulgate regulations governing practices and procedures for the appointment of independent counsels by the division.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 581: A bill to amend section 49 of title 28, United States Code, to limit the periods of service that a judge or justice may serve on the division of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to appoint independent counsels, and for for other purposes.. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-581/
MLA
"S. 581: A bill to amend section 49 of title 28, United States Code, to limit the periods of service that a judge or justice may serve on the division of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to appoint independent counsels, and for for other purposes.." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-581/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 581, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-581/.
Markdown link
[S. 581: A bill to amend section 49 of title 28, United States Code, to limit the periods of service that a judge or justice may serve on the division of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to appoint independent counsels, and for for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-581/)
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