Chief Justice Names Conference Committee Chairs

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., selected nine new chairs of Judicial Conference committees and extended the term of four current chairs by one year. The appointments took effect Oct. 1, except where noted. 

• Chief Judge Michael A. Chagares (Third Circuit) succeeded Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton (Sixth Circuit) as chair of the Executive Committee.
• Chief Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock (Alabama-Southern) succeeded Bankruptcy Judge Julie A. Manning (Connecticut) as chair of the Committee on Audits and Administrative Office Accountability.
• Judge Robert R. Summerhays (Louisiana-Western) succeeded Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., (North Carolina-Middle) as chair of the Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System.
• Judge Trevor N. McFadden (District of Columbia) succeeded Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove (Kentucky-Eastern) as chair of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management on July 19.
• Chief Judge C.J. Williams (Iowa-Northern) succeeded Judge Edmond E. Chang (Illinois-Northern) as chair of the Committee on Criminal Law.
• Judge Sara L. Ellis (Illinois-Northern) succeeded Judge Cathy Seibel (New York-Southern) as chair of the Committee on Defender Services.
• Judge Darrin P. Gayles (Florida-Southern) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction.
• Judge Steven C. Seeger (Illinois-Northern) succeeded Judge Beth Phillips (Missouri-Western) as chair of the Committee on Financial Disclosure.
• Judge Michael Y. Scudder, Jr., (Seventh Circuit) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Information Technology.
• Judge David G. Campbell (Arizona) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on International Judicial Relations.
• Judge Mark R. Hornak (Pennsylvania-Western) succeeded Judge Richard J. Sullivan (Second Circuit) as chair of the Committee on Judicial Security.
• Bankruptcy Judge Michelle M. Harner (Maryland) succeeded Bankruptcy Judge Rebecca Connelly (Virginia-Western) as chair of the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules.
• Judge Glenn T. Suddaby (New York-Northern) was extended for one year as chair of the Committee on Space and Facilities.

The Judicial Conference is the policy-making body for the federal court system. By statute, the Chief Justice of the United States serves as its presiding officer and its members are the chief judges of the 13 courts of appeals, a district judge from each of the 12 geographic circuits, and the chief judge of the Court of International Trade.

The Conference convenes twice a year to consider administrative and policy issues affecting the court system and make recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judicial Branch.