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A bill to make certain technical corrections in the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990.

Public Law 102-198 · S. 1284 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Dec 9, 1991 · Law

Sponsor: Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC)

Cosponsors (1): Sen. Howell Heflin

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Makes technical corrections to the Judicial Improvements Act of 1990.

Extends to retired justices of the U.S. Supreme Court the exemption for teaching income from the requirement that outside income for a judge may not exceed 15 percent of his or her annual salary.

Specifies that if a U.S. claims court judge separates from Government service and has a Thrift Savings Plan balance of $3,500 or less, the Executive Director of the Thrift Board may send such judge his or her nonforfeitable account balance in a single payment unless the judge elects another option.

Extends until March 31, 1993 (currently, 1992) the deadline for a report by the Judicial Conference on implementation of the Criminal Justice Act program.

Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that the filing of a notice of (currently, petition for) removal of a criminal prosecution shall not prevent the State court in which such prosecution is pending from proceeding further, except that a judgment of conviction shall not be entered unless the prosecution is first remanded (currently, petition is first denied).

Revises provisions with respect to the time for appeal to the court of appeals. Authorizes the district court: (1) upon motion filed within 30 days after the expiration of the time otherwise set for bringing appeal, to extend the time for appeal upon a showing of excusable neglect or good cause; and (2) if it finds that a party entitled to notice of the entry of a judgment or order did not receive such notice from the clerk or any party within 21 days of its entry and that no party would be prejudiced, upon motion filed within 180 days after entry of the judgment or order or within seven days after receipt of such notice, whichever is earlier, to reopen the time for appeal for a period of 14 days from the date of entry of the order reopening the time for appeal. (Current law provides that in any action, suit or proceeding in admiralty, the notice of appeal shall be filed within 90 days after the entry of the order, judgment, or decree appealed from, if it is a final decision, and within 15 days after its entry if it is an interlocutory decree; and authorizes the district court to extend the time for appeal for up to 30 days, upon a showing of excusable neglect based on failure of a party to learn of the entry of the judgment, order, or decree.)

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 16 actions.

  1. Dec 9, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-198.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 27, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 22, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
  5. Nov 19, 1991FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Hughes moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  9. Nov 18, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  10. Oct 29, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  11. Oct 1, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  12. CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  13. Sep 16, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  14. Jun 13, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  15. Jun 12, 1991FloorFloor · Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
  16. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.