Judiciary News
From Katrina to Sandy, U.S. Courts Learn to Weather Crises
Published onSeptember 23, 2015
Federal courts have greatly improved their response to natural disasters in the last decade, according to a new U.S. Courts video, released in observance of National Preparedness Month. The video details lessons from four weather emergencies that shut down federal courthouses.
Judicial Conference Updates Rules for Judicial Conduct Proceedings, Strategic Plan
Published onSeptember 17, 2015
The Judicial Conference of the United States today adopted amended rules for Judicial Conduct and Disability proceedings that provide for greater transparency and also approved an updated Strategic Plan for the Federal Judiciary.
Students Participate in Naturalizations on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Published onSeptember 15, 2015
Students will participate in naturalization ceremonies across the nation throughout September as part of a living civics lesson on citizenship. Federal courts are conducting more than 50 naturalization ceremonies in September to observe Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, which is officially celebrated on September 17.
Project on Statutory Construction Promotes Inter-Branch Communications
Published onSeptember 10, 2015
The federal courts of appeal can help Congress make legislative intent as clear as possible through a project designed by the non-partisan Governance Institute and adopted by the Judicial Conference in 1995, on the recommendation of its Judicial Branch Committee.
Video: ‘You Be the Judge’ Gives Students First-Hand View of Sentencing
Published onSeptember 3, 2015
An innovative U.S. courts program has students serving as federal judges in courtrooms to experience what it is like to make difficult sentencing decisions — involving their own peers.
Supreme Court Fellows Begin 2015-2016 Term
Published onAugust 27, 2015
Four Supreme Court Fellows have begun their 2015-2016 fellowships in the federal Judiciary. The Supreme Court Fellows Program was created in 1973 by the late Chief Justice Warren E. Burger to provide individuals with a first-hand understanding of the federal government, in particular, the judicial branch.
Pro Se Centers Help Even the Odds for Litigants Without Lawyers
Published onAugust 20, 2015
When litigants come to federal court without a lawyer, they are at a disadvantage. Even if their case is strong, they can easily get lost in a maze of procedural rules and arcane terminology. A single error can doom their chances, long before a trial date is set. In the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, that is changing. Since late March, an innovative program has provided critical legal help to more than 150 low-income pro se litigants—people who must, usually for financial reasons, file or defend a civil lawsuit without a lawyer.
Video Examines Probation, Changing Offender Behavior
Published onAugust 18, 2015
The tales of how two criminal offenders successfully returned to society after years in federal prison are at the heart of a new U.S. Courts video, in which a U.S. District judge, a federal probation services official and a probation officer based in Wisconsin discuss how courts help former offenders become law-abiding citizens.
Life Sentences in the Federal Justice System
Published onAugust 13, 2015
A recent report from the U.S. Sentencing Commission looks at the relatively rare sentence of life imprisonment in the federal justice system.
Judicial Heroes’ Courthouses Named Landmarks
Published onAugust 7, 2015
The memories of three legendary federal judges, who overcame deep-seated southern resistance to end segregation for millions of African Americans, were honored recently when the courthouses named after them were declared national historic landmarks.
Court Takes Direct Hit From Typhoon Soudelor
Published onAugust 6, 2015
The last week of July, Gregg Miller traveled from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ Washington, DC office to Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands for planning meetings on a local courthouse project. He was just in time to ride out in his hotel his first typhoon.
Courthouse, Federal Reserve Educate Teachers About Law, Economy
Published onJuly 30, 2015
An unusual partnership between the U.S. Courts and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has given 40 school teachers a close-up look at how the law and a healthy economy are interrelated.
Bankruptcy Filings Down 12 Percent Since Last June
Published onJuly 28, 2015
Bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2015, fell 12 percent when compared to bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2014, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Academy Gives Probation and Pretrial Officers ‘National Identity’
Published onJuly 23, 2015
The National Training Academy, credited with giving a “national identity” to the Judiciary’s 5,000 probation and pretrial services officers, has grown dramatically since it opened 10 years ago, according to a newly released U.S. Courts video.
2014 Report Shows Fewer Debtors Filing for Bankruptcy, But More Repeat Filers
Published onJuly 21, 2015
Bankruptcy petitions filed by individuals with consumer debt were down in 2014 when compared with 2013; more individuals filed for bankruptcy protection under plans that included installment payments to creditors; and for more individuals, this wasn’t the first time they’d filed for bankruptcy in the last 8 years.