H.R. 7634: Judicial Loyalty Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Judicial Loyalty Act of 2026, seeks to change the eligibility requirements for individuals who can serve as judges in the United States.

Key Provisions

• Limitation on Nationality: The bill states that only those who are natural born citizens of the United States are eligible to be appointed as federal judges. This means that individuals who are naturalized citizens would not qualify for these positions.
• Resignation Requirement for Dual Citizens: If a sitting judge is a citizen of both the United States and another country, they would be required to officially renounce their foreign citizenship within 60 days following the enactment of this legislation. Failing to do so would result in their inability to continue serving as a judge.

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that all federal judges are exclusively American citizens by birth, reflecting a specific policy stance regarding national loyalty and citizenship. It aims to address concerns some may have regarding the implications of holding dual citizenship while serving in a judicial capacity.

Implementation

The proposed changes would be added to Title 28 of the United States Code, which governs the judiciary. The existing laws would be amended to incorporate these new eligibility criteria and the associated resignation requirements for judges who hold dual citizenship.

Implications

The passage of this bill could significantly alter the pool of candidates eligible for federal judicial appointments by excluding those who are not natural-born citizens. Additionally, it would require current judges in such circumstances to make a choice regarding their citizenship status to retain their positions.

Relevant Companies

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