Judiciary News
Civil Rights Champion Uses Law to Fight Racism
Published onFebruary 1, 2018
Long before President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him to the federal bench, Judge Damon J. Keith was a fervent champion of equal justice under the law.
Bankruptcy Filings Fall 0.7% – Smallest 12-Month Decline Since 2010
Published onJanuary 24, 2018
Bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending December 31, 2017, fell just 0.7 percent, compared with bankruptcy cases filed in calendar year 2016.
Judiciary Open During Government Shutdown
Published onJanuary 20, 2018
Despite a government shutdown, the federal Judiciary will remain open and can continue operations for approximately three weeks, through February 9, by using court fee balances and other funds not dependent on a new appropriation.
Courts Help Each Other Survive Hurricane Season
Published onJanuary 18, 2018
Federal courts share their stories of surviving an extreme hurricane season.
Federal Judiciary Workplace Conduct Working Group Formed
Published onJanuary 12, 2018
James C. Duff, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, has established a Federal Judiciary Workplace Conduct Working Group to review the safeguards currently in place within the Judiciary to protect employees from inappropriate conduct in the workplace.
Court Declares a Settlement Week to Clear Old Caseload
Published onJanuary 12, 2018
The Western District Court of New York is one of the most congested courts in the country, receiving over 3,000 filings annually with individual judges’ caseloads at nearly 800. To reduce a long backlog of unresolved lawsuits, Chief Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., revived a mediation strategy not used by the court since 1995: a settlement week.
Providing Equal Justice Through Training
Published onJanuary 4, 2018
Lawyers reflect on how the Judiciary’s defender training program gives them the confidence and know-how to provide indigent clients with a solid defense.
Chief Justice Roberts Issues 2017 Year-End Report
Published onDecember 31, 2017
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., has issued his 2017 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary.
Federal Judicial Center Marks 50th Anniversary
Published onDecember 20, 2017
The Federal Judicial Center, which has educated generations of federal judges and provided ground-breaking research on such topics as court technology and less costly ways to resolve disputes, celebrates its 50th anniversary on Dec. 20, 2017.
New Bankruptcy Form, Rules Take Effect
Published onDecember 1, 2017
Individuals filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 must use a new form that presents their payment plan in a more uniform and transparent manner, and creditors will have less time to submit a proof of claim, under new bankruptcy rules and form amendments that took effect Dec. 1.
Jury Scams Target Even Unlikely Victims
Published onNovember 16, 2017
Louisiana native Beth Cenac never thought she would be the target of a jury scam. She is a professional with a master’s degree who worked as a public librarian for 30 years and previously served on a jury.
Moments in History: Judge Jack Weinstein and Mass Tort Litigation
Published onNovember 8, 2017
Prominent judges, lawyers, and other associates share their recollections of the legal mastermind behind the Agent Orange class action settlement — U.S. Senior Judge Jack B. Weinstein, of the Eastern District of New York.
Indiana Court Brings Its History to the Big Screen
Published onNovember 2, 2017
In 2016, the state of Indiana celebrated its bicentennial with major statewide events, commemorative memorabilia, and appearances from famed celebrities who hail from the Hoosier state. Doria Lynch, court historian and special projects manager for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, began planning a second celebration, of the federal court’s own bicentennial in 2017.
In Colorado, Judges Teach Civics to Adults
Published onOctober 26, 2017
Surveys show that only 26 percent of U.S. adults can name all three branches of federal government, and 31 percent can’t name even one. Judiciary leaders in Colorado and elsewhere are working to improve those numbers.
Bankruptcy Filings Decline Is Smallest in Years
Published onOctober 18, 2017
Bankruptcy filings fell by 1.8 percent for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2017, compared with the year ending September 30, 2016. This is the smallest one-year drop since a national decline in annual federal bankruptcy filings began in June 2011.