Following a meeting and discussion with the Judicial Conference's Executive Committee, the Chief Justice has directed Conference committees to treat long-range planning as "an intrinsic part of each Conference committee's policy-making function." Any additions or changes to the Long Range Plan for the Federal Courts, approved by the Conference last fall, will now be handled through recommendations to the Conference from the appropriate committees. Issues of major importance that cut across committee jurisdictions may be addressed by ad hoc committees, appointed by the Chief Justice.
The Conference's Executive Committee will be responsible for coordinating planning activities, and will be aided in that task by special liaison members appointed by the chairs from committees with long-range planning jurisdictions. These members are tasked with promoting and continuing long-range planning within their committees, and they may also serve as an ad hoc advisory group to the Conference. Committees also are encouraged to include a discussion of long-range planning activities in their regular reports to the Conference.
The Conference's Committee on Long Range Planning completed its work in the fall of 1995 and was recognized for its efforts by the Chief Justice last March. Although there are no plans for another long-range planning committee in the immediate future, it is anticipated that a new committee may be appointed whenever a more thorough update is needed, perhaps every five to ten years. The Administrative Office's Long Range Planning Office will provide professional support to the Executive and other conference Committees and serve as a planning resource to the judicial branch.