As the 2010 fiscal year began on October 1, 2009, the federal Judiciary kept operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by Congress. The CR continues through October 31. Congress has not yet passed the 2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, under which the Judiciary receives its annual appropriations, and the CR allows court operations to continue in the new fiscal year. While courts should not start new projects or activities while operating under a CR, they can continue to obligate funds at the same rate as they did in FY 2009.

Both the House and the Senate Appropriations Committees have reported their versions of the Judiciary’s FY 2010 appropriations bill. As of October 1, none of the 12 appropriations bills funding operations in government departments and agencies had been enacted, and it is uncertain when Congress will act on them.