Main content

In Profile - Annual Report 2009

Image of members of the AO

As the central support organization for the judicial branch, the AO provides a wide range of administrative, legal, financial, management, program, and information technology services to federal courts nationwide.

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Statutory Authority. 28 U.S.C. §§ 601-612. Congress established the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in 1939 to provide administrative support to federal courts.

Supervision. The Director of the Administrative Office carries out statutory responsibilities and other duties under the supervision and direction of the principal policy-making body of the Judiciary, the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Responsibilities. All responsibility for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts is vested in the Director, who is the chief administrative officer for the federal courts. Under his direction, the agency carries out the following functions:

ORGANIZATION

Director

James C. Duff

Serves as the chief executive of the Administrative Office, Secretary to the Judicial Conference and ex officio member of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference, and the Board of Directors of the Federal Judicial Center.

Deputy Director

Jill C. Sayenga

Chief advisor to the Director on day-to-day management, strategic, and tactical planning, and operational matters; ensures that activities of all agency elements are functioning in support of stated management goals.

Associate Director and General Counsel

William R. Burchill, Jr.
Robert K. Loesche, Deputy

Provides legal counsel and services to the Director and staff of the Administrative Office and to the Judicial Conference; responds to legal inquiries from judges and other court officials regarding court operations; represents agency in bid protests and other administrative litigation.

Judicial Conference Executive Secretariat

Laura C. Minor, Assistant Director
Wendy Jennis, Deputy
Jeffrey A. Hennemuth, Deputy

Coordinates the agency’s performance of the staff functions required by the Judicial Conference and its committees; maintains the official records of the Judicial Conference; responds to judges and other court personnel regarding Conference activities; and coordinates the advisory group process.

Legislative Affairs

Cordia A. Strom, Assistant Director
Daniel Cunningham, Deputy

Provides legislative counsel and services to the Judiciary; maintains liaison with the legislative branch; manages the coordination of matters affecting the Judiciary with the states, legal entities, and other organizations; develops and produces judicial impact statements.

Public Affairs

David A. Sellers, Assistant Director

Carries out public information, community outreach, and communications programs for the federal Judiciary; manages publishing efforts for the Administrative Office.

Court Administration

Noel J. Augustyn, Assistant Director
Glen K. Palman, Deputy

Provides support to the courts for circuit executives, clerks of court, court librarians, staff attorneys, conference attorneys, court reporters, and interpreters, including the development of budgets, allocation of resources, and management of national programs.

Defender Services

Theodore J. Lidz, Assistant Director
Steven G. Asin, Deputy

Provides policy guidance and administrative, analytical, training, and evaluative services relating to the Criminal Justice Act and support to federal public and community defender organizations.

Facilities and Security

Ross Eisenman, Assistant Director
William J. Lehman, Deputy

Manages services provided to the courts in the areas of court security and space and facilities, and serves as the primary contact on real property administration matters with the General Services Administration and on court security matters with the U.S. Marshals Service.

Finance and Budget

George H. Schafer, Assistant Director
Michael N. Milby, Deputy

Manages the budget, accounting, and financial systems of the Judiciary; prepares financial analyses of Judiciary programs; manages relocation and travel services for the courts; and serves as the Judiciary's point of contact for Congress on budget matters.

Human Resources

Patricia J. Fitzgibbons, Assistant Director

Manages services provided to the courts in the areas of personnel, payroll, health and retirement benefits, workforce development, and employee dispute resolution.

Information Technology

Howard Grandier, Assistant Director
Joseph R. Peters, Jr., Deputy

Administers the information resources management program of the Judiciary; oversees the development, delivery/deployment, security, and management of all national IT systems.

Internal Services

Doreen G.B. Bydume, Assistant Director

Manages the Judiciary's procurement function; provides administrative support and services to the Administrative Office in areas such as budget, facilities, personnel, information technology and information management; and administers the Administrative Office’s fair employment practices program.

Judges Programs

Peter G. McCabe, Assistant Director
R. Townsend Robinson, Deputy

Provides support and services for judges and chambers staff in program management and policy development; coordinates and supports federal rules of practice and procedure; gathers, analyzes, and reports statistical data.

Probation and Pretrial Services

John M. Hughes, Assistant Director
Matthew Rowland, Deputy

Determines the resource and program requirements of the probation and pretrial services system, and provides policy guidance, program evaluation services, management and technical assistance, and training to probation and pretrial services officers.