Responding to continued #MeToo scrutiny of the federal judiciary, the Judicial Conference on Thursday proposed significant changes in its code of conduct and rules to make it easier for employees to file complaints, and harder for perpetrators to escape punishment.

“A judge has an affirmative duty to promote civility, not only in the courtroom, but throughout the courthouse,” the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts stated in a summary of the amendments to the code of conduct. “Confidentiality obligations of employees should never be an obstacle to reporting judicial misconduct or disability.”