As of December 1, 2009, the way in which time is calculated by federal courts is scheduled to change. The changes are intended to make calculating time periods simpler, clearer, and more consistent.

In the first five months of 2009, the number of intercircuit assignments has increased 75% over the same time period in 2008. Judges from all over the country are stepping up to help one another out.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York offers "loss mitigation"—a program that encourages debtors who have filed for bankruptcy protection and their secured creditors to sit down and discuss ways foreclosure might be averted.

The next release of the Electronic Probation and Pretial Service System will allow the courts to transmit images of the sentencing documents in PDF format at the push of a button, instead of mailing them, saving postage costs and the inconvenience of copying.

Judge D. Brock Hornby (D. Me.) is the recipient of the 27th Annual Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award.

An interview with Judge Babara Lynn on how the recession is affecting judicial workload, and what's being done to help. Judge Lynn has served as the chair of the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System since 2007.

Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) is the new chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law.