Judicial Conference Meets, Makes Policy
Recommendations on Federal Court Management

When the Judicial Conference met for its 142^nd session Wednesday, March 13, it was for the first time since September 11, 2001. That session was suspended when the Supreme Court was evacuated following the terrorist attacks. The expectation was that the Conference would return the following day to conclude its business. That, of course, did not happen.

As a result, Chief Justice Rehnquist sent a memo to Conference members advising them that the best course would be to resolve obviously time-sensitive matters by mail ballot. It was through this mail ballot that the Conference adopted the policy to make most civil and bankruptcy case documents available electronically to the same extent they are available at the courthouse.

At its most recent session, the Conference approved a pilot program to allow selected courts to provide Internet access to criminal case files.

The Judicial Conference meets twice a year to consider administrative and policy issues affecting the court system and to make recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judiciary.

The Conference operates through a network of committees, which focus, and advise, on a wide variety of subjects:

*Automation

*Personnel

*Probation and pretrial services

*Bankruptcy

*Space and security

*Judicial salaries and benefits.

The Executive Committee is the executive arm of the Conference, and acts on its behalf between sessions on items that require emergency action. This committee

*Reviews the jurisdiction of Conference committees.

*Prepares discussion and consent calendars for Conference meetings.

*Sets and publishes procedures for agendas and schedules of events

Although the Judicial Conference does not make decisions on the day-to-day management of federal courts, its committees do review issues within their established jurisdictions and make policy recommendations to the Conference.

Judicial Conference Approves Pilot Program
for Remote Public Access to Criminal Case Files

During its 142^nd session held Wednesday, March 13, the Judicial Conference of the United States approved a pilot program to allow selected courts to provide Internet access to criminal case files. Most civil and bankruptcy case documents already are available electronically.

The Conference also agreed to allow Internet access to criminal files in high-profile cases that impose extraordinary demands on court resources.

A press release from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts gives more details on this recommendation and other Conference action.