Judiciary News

Marcia Anderson is the bankruptcy clerk of court for the Western District of Wisconsin. She also is the nation's first female African American major general in the U.S. Army Reserve. Her story and how she balances these two very different worlds are the themes of a new "Serving Our Courts, Serving Our Country" video, released by the United States Courts to honor Veterans Day 2012.

Bankruptcy cases filed in federal courts for fiscal year 2012, the 12-month period ending September 30, 2012, totaled 1,261,140, down 14 percent from the 1,467,221 bankruptcy cases filed in FY 2011, according to statistics released today by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Former Senator Evan Bayh and Senator Richard Lugar were recognized for their service to the federal Judiciary by the judges from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Hurricane Sandy, which caused widespread chaos throughout the Northeast, has put federal courts based in Manhattan in their worst operational crisis since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In addition to debates, rallies, and political ads, election season often includes litigation. The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) has published a collection of 80 case studies on emergency election litigation in federal courts.

UPDATED: Most federal courts in states hit by Hurricane Sandy have reopened, but power failures continue to shut down four courts in Manhattan.

Courts throughout the east are bracing for Hurricane Sandy. Several have posted closure notices on their court Internet sites.

Judge Thomas F. Hogan, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, has received the prestigious Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award.

Two federal courthouses in California—the James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse in San Francisco and the Spring Street Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles—have been designated national landmarks by the U.S. Determent of Interior.

Chief Justice John Roberts Jr, has named five new Judicial Conference committee chairs and extended the terms of three current committee chairs, effective October 1, 2012.

Who knew vampires were into social media? A student vampire club, calling themselves The Fangtastics, goes to court when high school administrators drive a stake through the heart of their online postings.

Four Fellows have been selected to participate in the 2012-2013 Supreme Court Fellows Program beginning this fall. The Fellows Program was created in 1973 by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, and offers, in the words of Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., "a unique opportunity for exceptional individuals to contribute to the administration of justice at the national level."

The Western District of Washington hosted a multi-district, multi-agency emergency preparedness summit this summer, bringing together representatives from the federal courts, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other government agencies.

A gavel changed hands in the Central District of California last week as the district welcomed its new chief judge.

By law, the Supreme Court of the United States starts its new term the first Monday in October -- a practice that has occurred for nearly 100 years.