H.R. 9784 is a bill that aims to amend Title 28 of the United States Code, requiring justices, judges, magistrate judges, and bankruptcy judges, along with their spouses and dependent children, to place certain financial assets into qualified blind trusts. This measure is intended to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that judicial officials do not have control over their investments while serving in their roles.
Supporters of H.R. 9784 argue that the bill promotes transparency and integrity within the judicial system by minimizing potential conflicts of interest. Advocates believe that by mandating judges to use blind trusts, it enhances public trust in the judiciary and ensures that decisions are made impartially, without financial influence.
Critics of H.R. 9784 express concerns that the bill may be overly restrictive and could hinder the personal financial management of judges and their families. Some argue that the requirement to place assets in blind trusts might not effectively address the real issues of judicial impartiality and could lead to unintended consequences, such as financial hardship for judges who are forced to relinquish control over their investments.
The analysis of H.R. 9784, which mandates justices and judges to place certain assets into qualified blind trusts, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the bill's subject matter and the sponsor, Henry Johnson's, top donor industries. The lobbying activity related to this bill includes significant contributions from various organizations, such as the American College of Emergency Physicians ($498,299) and the Trust for Public Land ($150,000). However, these contributions do not directly correlate with the judicial asset management focus of the bill, indicating a low risk of conflict of interest. Voters should be aware that while there is substantial lobbying in the judiciary space, the lack of direct donor influence on the bill's subject matter suggests that the legislation is unlikely to be swayed by donor interests.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS | AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS | $498,299 |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | $150,000 |
| COLLIER COLLECTIVE, LLC | MCCOLL STRATEGIES LLC | $40,000 |
| HART HEALTH STRATEGIES | TIM YEHL, LLC | $40,000 |
| PANO AI | PANO AI | $40,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATION | TIM YEHL, LLC | $30,000 |
| BSA, THE SOFTWARE ALLIANCE | TIM YEHL, LLC | $20,000 |
| PSEG SERVICES CORPORATION | TIM YEHL, LLC | $20,000 |
| COUNTY OF NAPA | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $15,000 |
| LAKE COUNTY | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $15,000 |
| NEVADA COUNTY | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $15,000 |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $15,000 |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES ADMINISTRATORS | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $10,000 |
| CLARK COUNTY | PARAGON GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Henry Johnson, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
