Every Report Reviewed, Judge Says

Chair of Committee on Financial Disclosure defends reporting system

The Star Tribune asked officials of the judicial branch to explain their expectations for compliance with disclosure and complaint rules and to comment on the rate of errors and omissions the newspaper found in its survey. Top officials declined to respond directly, but did send prepared statements by Judge Frank Magill of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, chair of the judiciary's Committee on Financial Disclosure. He noted that judges fill out many forms before their confirmation and that members of his committee review every disclosure report, sending letters asking for more information when it is required. "The committee feels an inherent responsibility to ensure that the reports released to the public are an accurate reflection of an individual judge's activities and financial holdings," Magill said in the statement. Magill said the committee notifies judges when their reports are released to the public. "Reports are available to just about anyone, including prisoners and disgruntled litigants, provided they comply with the committee procedures for requesting the forms. The committee is particularly aware of the security concerns with respect to the release of the reports. They are the same concerns that face filers in all three branches of government." No other branch of government, however, routinely informs officials when their disclosure reports have been requested.