(a) Removal, report on removal and termination.--
(1) An independent counsel appointed under this chapter may be removed from office only by the personal action of the panel and only for good cause, physical disability, mental incapacity or any other condition that substantially impairs the performance of the independent counsel's duties. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "good cause" includes violations of any ethical rules governing the independent counsel, the Attorney General or district attorneys.
(2) If an independent counsel is removed from office, the panel shall promptly submit to the Judiciary Committee of the Senate and the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives a report specifying the facts found and the ultimate grounds for the removal. The committees may make available to the public the report, except that each committee may, if necessary to protect the rights of any individual named in the report or to prevent undue interference with any pending prosecution, postpone or refrain from publishing any or all of the report. The panel may release any or all of the report in accordance with section 9537(b) (relating to reports by independent counsel).
(3) An independent counsel removed from office may obtain judicial review of the removal in a civil action commenced in the Commonwealth Court. The independent counsel may be reinstated or granted other appropriate relief by order of the Commonwealth Court. A member of the panel may not hear or determine the civil action or any appeal of a decision in the civil action.
(b) Termination of office.--
(1) An office of independent counsel shall terminate when the independent counsel:
(i) notifies the panel that the investigation of all matters within the prosecutorial jurisdiction of the independent counsel or accepted by the independent counsel, and any resulting prosecutions, have been completed; and
(ii) files a final report in compliance with section 9537.
(2) The panel shall determine on its own motion whether termination is appropriate under this subsection no later than two years after the appointment of an independent counsel or the reported expenditures of the independent counsel, including personnel costs under sections 9532 (relating to compensation and travel expenses) and 9533 (relating to additional personnel), have reached $2,000,000, whichever occurs first, and at the end of each succeeding one-year period.
Cross References. Section 9543 is referred to in section 9537 of this title.
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