Judiciary News
Pride Month Heritage Spotlight: Judge Judith Levy
Published onJune 9, 2022
Judge Judith E. Levy considers the Stonewall rebellion in 1969 as the tipping point in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community’s quest for equality and inclusion. In recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month, a new video profile explores Levy’s experience coming out, her pursuit of a career in law, and the social change advocates who inspired her.
Bankruptcy Filings Continue Steady Drop
Published onMay 17, 2022
Bankruptcy filings continued a steep two-year-long fall that coincided with the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Filings fell 16.5 percent for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2022.
Judges Request Funding to Address Cybersecurity, Courthouse Safety, Growing Workload
Published onMay 12, 2022
Two federal judges testified that a Judiciary budget of $8.6 billion is needed to keep pace with inflation and to pay for important new investments in courthouse security, IT modernization, and cybersecurity. They also requested staffing to address workload increases caused by issues outside the Judiciary’s control.
Law Day Focuses on Four Students Who Sought Change
Published onMay 5, 2022
The Judiciary’s observance of Law Day this year focuses on four students who brought historic cases to the federal courts that led to desegregation of public schools and shaped students’ First Amendment rights.
Bankruptcy Judges Teach Financial Literacy with CARE for 20 Years
Published onApril 21, 2022
After a two-year hiatus from in-person outreach programs due to COVID-19, bankruptcy judges are returning to classrooms to teach students how to manage personal finances with informed planning and decision-making.
Application Period Opens for PACER User Group
Published onMarch 31, 2022
The federal Judiciary has opened the application period for membership in its public user group that provides advice and feedback on ways to improve electronic public access (EPA) services.
U.S. Judicial Conference Celebrates 100th Anniversary
Published onMarch 25, 2022
Over the last 100 years, the Judicial Conference of the United States has grappled with many issues: rising court caseloads and limited resources, natural disasters, public-health crises, and the safety of the Judiciary and the public. This year marks the centennial of the national policy-making body, which has helped ensure efficient administration of justice in the courts since 1922.
Judges Tell Congress That Workplace Conduct Strategy Should Continue
Published onMarch 17, 2022
Testifying to a House subcommittee about workplace conduct, two federal judges said that “the Judiciary’s process for protecting employees is demonstrating its promise and should be given time to build upon the significant strides made to date.”
Judges M. Margaret McKeown and Julie A. Robinson testified before the House Judiciary Committee’s Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet subcommittee. McKeown, of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and Robinson, of the District of Kansas, both are members of the Federal Judiciary Workplace Conduct Working Group.
Judiciary Releases Workplace Conduct Working Group Report, Recommends 9 Changes to Build on Progress Made to Date
Published onMarch 16, 2022
In a wide-ranging report, the Judiciary’s Workplace Conduct Working Group said its program to ensure an exemplary workplace has achieved broad improvements, by adding abusive conduct to longstanding protections against discrimination and harassment, imposing an express prohibition on abusive conduct, and improving processes to make it easier for employees to report and resolve workplace concerns.
Judiciary Releases Annual Report and Judicial Business 2021
Published onMarch 15, 2022
In 2021, the Judiciary confronted uniquely trying times: The global pandemic placed serious constraints on the courts for a second straight year, unanticipated spikes in caseloads were driven by the Jan. 6 upheaval at the Capitol and other events, and cybersecurity threats to government technology systems continued unabated.
Judicial Conference Adopts Transparency Measures
Published onMarch 15, 2022
Taking steps to increase transparency and public access, the federal Judiciary’s policy making body today approved automating the release of judges’ financial disclosure reports, amending its conflict screening policy, and expanding the scope of its audio streaming pilot project.
Chief Judge Ramona Manglona: A Trailblazer for Women in the Law
Published onMarch 10, 2022
In celebration of Women’s History Month, a new video profile explores Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, perseverance in pursuing a career in law. She reflects on the challenges her parents faced raising 12 children on Saipan, and credits them with instilling in her a strong work ethic.
Clerk’s Office Earns Award for Cutting Case Processing Time in Half
Published onMarch 8, 2022
Case filings are being processed more efficiently than ever in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, thanks to several procedural improvements made by the Clerk’s Office. The court’s administrative arm effectively cut the case processing time for submitted documents and filings in half, while also increasing the accuracy of how documents are submitted to the court to as high as 95 percent, up 13 percent since the improvements were made.
Judge Tanya Chutkan 'Developed a Thick Skin' to Overcome Race-Based Comments
Published onFebruary 24, 2022
In recognition of African American History Month, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan shared her experiences at a program for public defense attorneys and members of the legal community.
African American Heritage Spotlight: Judge Lydia Griggsby
Published onFebruary 17, 2022
Judge Lydia K. Griggsby said it’s the “honor of my career” to sit on the federal bench in Baltimore and serve the community “that raised me and nurtured me as a young girl.” She is the first woman of color to serve as a district judge for the U.S. District Court of Maryland.