Judiciary News
Rya Zobel: A Child of Nazi Germany Says ‘I’ve been Incredibly Fortunate’
Published onAugust 28, 2019
Judge Rya Zobel, of the District of Massachusetts, joined a historic class of 23 women who in 1979 transformed the federal Judiciary. In a group of pioneering women lawyers, her journey to the federal bench was perhaps the most remarkable.
Mary Murphy Schroeder: She Broke Barriers From the Start
Published onAugust 21, 2019
In 1979, Mary Murphy Schroeder joined a historic class of women judges who transformed the federal Judiciary, but her law career nearly ended before it began. The night before her first final law exam at the University of Chicago, Schroeder collapsed and was hospitalized with a severe kidney infection.
40 Years Later, Pioneering Women Judges Savor Place in History
Published onAugust 14, 2019
In 1979, 23 women were appointed to the federal bench—more than doubling the number of women appointed to life-tenured judgeships in the previous 190 year history of the United States. The doors they opened never swung shut again. Forty years later, women make up one-third of the courts’ full-time, active Article III judges.
Judges Explain Rule of Law, Why It Matters
Published onAugust 8, 2019
Nine federal judges, in a new Judiciary “Court Shorts” video, explain how fair and consistent adherence to the law protects our rights and well-being in everyday situations like buying a breakfast sandwich, reading mail, and investing in the stock market.
ABA Honors Judge M. Margaret McKeown With Marshall Award
Published onAugust 8, 2019
Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is to receive the American Bar Association’s prestigious John Marshall Award Friday, Aug. 9, during the ABA’s annual meeting in San Francisco.
June 2019 Bankruptcy Filings Fall 0.3 Percent
Published onJuly 26, 2019
Bankruptcy filings fell 0.3 percent for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2019, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Probation Officers Looking for Future Officers in the Classroom
Published onJuly 25, 2019
Federal probation offices around the country are reaching into local schools, sometimes helped by furry drug-sniffing dogs. Their goal? Raising awareness about the work of pretrial and probation officers and encouraging a diverse group of future officers.
Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart to Receive 2019 Devitt Award
Published onJuly 23, 2019
Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is the recipient of the 2019 Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. Stewart will formally receive the award on Oct. 17 in a ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Panels Focus on Merit in Selection of Magistrate Judges
Published onJuly 18, 2019
Magistrate judges play a critical role in the federal Judiciary, fulfilling a broad range of responsibilities and easing heavy caseloads in district courts. A new video by the U.S courts. explains the merit selection process for these judges.
2018 Wiretap Report: Orders and Convictions Fall
Published onJune 28, 2019
Federal and state courts reported a combined 23 percent decrease in authorized wiretaps in 2018, compared with 2017, according to the Judiciary’s 2018 Wiretap report. Convictions in cases involving electronic surveillance also fell sharply.
Judiciary Creates Public User Group for PACER
Published onJune 26, 2019
The federal Judiciary has created and is seeking members for a public user group to provide advice and feedback on ways to improve its electronic public access services.
Vaping Scenario Shows How the 4th Amendment Applies at School
Published onJune 6, 2019
What happens when school officials search a backpack and find an underage student’s e-cigarettes? An innovative courtroom program helps students understand how search and seizure laws affect them.
Courts Seek to Increase Jury Diversity
Published onMay 9, 2019
A heightened awareness of the importance of diverse juries has prompted some federal courts to evaluate their selection processes to ensure that the age, race, and socio-economic status of juror pools reflect the courts’ communities.
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank Is Serving Justice One Day at a Time
Published onMay 2, 2019
Growing up in a small town in Minnesota, Donovan Frank overcame the modest expectations of his high school teacher to attend college and then law school. He later also overcame alcoholism, a condition that nearly destroyed his marriage, on his way to becoming a state judge and then a federal judge in the District of Minnesota for two decades.
Bankruptcy Filings Continue to Decline
Published onApril 22, 2019
Bankruptcy filings fell by 0.9 percent for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2019, compared with the year ending March 31, 2018.