Judiciary News
Judge Julia Gibbons Receives 2021 Devitt Award
Published onOctober 7, 2021
Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, former budget chair for the U.S. Judicial Conference who was a pioneering woman judge in her home state of Tennessee, is the recipient of the 2021 Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. Gibbons serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Federal Defender Committed to Improving Hispanic Representation in the Legal Field
Published onOctober 7, 2021
Cuauhtemoc Ortega grew up in the working-class neighborhood of La Puente in Los Angeles County, where people he knew sometimes struggled through negative encounters with law enforcement and immigration officials. Now, he leads the Federal Public Defender’s Office representing La Puente and the greater Los Angeles area.
Judiciary Supplements Judgeship Request, Prioritizes Courthouse Projects
Published onSeptember 28, 2021
The Judiciary’s policy-making body today recommended that Congress create new judgeships because of a rapid and substantial rise in felony prosecutions in two districts.
Collins Fitzpatrick, Longest-Serving Circuit Executive, Reflects on Career
Published onSeptember 24, 2021
On Sept. 28, Collins Fitzpatrick will retire as Circuit Executive of the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, after 50 years of service in the federal Judiciary. In 1976, Fitzpatrick was appointed as the Seventh Circuit’s first executive, five years after Congress created the position. He is by far the longest-serving circuit executive in the federal court system.
Judges and Lawyers Engage Students in Conversations About the Constitution
Published onSeptember 23, 2021
More than 550 students at South Florida high schools engaged in a day of candid conversations with federal judges and attorneys about the Constitution, civil discourse, and solid decision-making skills in the law and in teens’ lives. The event was part of a monthlong national celebration of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
What is Judicial Impartiality? Judges Explain How They Apply the Law
Published onSeptember 14, 2021
How do federal judges have an impact on individual rights every day, even for people who may never enter a courtroom? Ten federal judges answer the question in the new video “Court Shorts: A Fair and Impartial Judiciary,” produced in celebration of Constitution Day, on Sept. 17, discussing their commitment to impartiality, the Constitution, and the rule of law.
Comments Invited on Regulations for Bankruptcy Trustee Payments
Published onAugust 30, 2021
The bench, bar, and public have been asked to provide comments on proposed interim regulations for the administration of a new payment for trustees serving in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases under the Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2020. The comment period runs from Aug. 30, 2021 to Sept. 17, 2021.
Hurricane Ida Courthouse Closures
Published onAugust 30, 2021
Federal courthouses along the Gulf Coast are closed due to the effects of Hurricane Ida.
Judiciary Informs Congress of Its Opposition to Bill
Published onAugust 25, 2021
The Judiciary has informed Congress that it opposes the proposed Judiciary Accountability Act. In a letter to key lawmakers today, Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, secretary of the Judicial Conference of the United States, wrote that the bill “fails to recognize the robust safeguards that have been in place within the Judiciary to protect Judiciary employees, including law clerks, from wrongful conduct in the workplace, including protections against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and abusive conduct.”
Judiciary Renews Calls for Security Funding
Published onAugust 16, 2021
Judiciary leaders are expressing deep concern that Congress has failed to provide funding to protect federal judges and courthouses, and are urging House and Senate leaders to appropriate money to address a “worsening” safety environment.
Comments Invited on Proposed Rules for Future Emergencies
Published onAugust 9, 2021
The bench, bar, and public have been asked to provide comments on a series of proposed rules that would, if approved, guide the Judiciary in responding to future declared emergencies that impair federal court operations. The proposals include amendments to Appellate Rules 2 and 4, and new emergency Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Rules.
Bankruptcy Filings Plunged to Lowest Number Since 1985
Published onAugust 4, 2021
Personal and business bankruptcy filings plummeted 32.2 percent for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2021. The number of filings was the lowest in a 12-month period since 1985.
New York Court Eases Return into Community After Prison
Published onJuly 27, 2021
Federal judges and court staff in Manhattan recently celebrated two dozen individuals’ successful transition back into the community after prison, thanks to a specialized program to help high-risk former offenders maintain crime-free lives.
Judiciary Seeks $1.54 Billion for Infrastructure
Published onJuly 20, 2021
Citing “crucial infrastructure needs for courthouse security, courthouse construction, and information technology,” the Judiciary is asking Congress for $1.54 billion as part of any infrastructure bill enacted by the legislative branch.
Judiciary Affirms Need for Bill to Protect Federal Judges
Published onJuly 14, 2021
The federal Judiciary has voiced its support for newly introduced legislation to protect federal judges, saying action by Congress is needed to prevent tragedies like the one a year ago when the son of a judge in New Jersey was shot and killed by a disgruntled litigant.