Judiciary News
Linked Systems Automate Petty Offense Case Management for First Time
Published onAugust 7, 2012
In July, the District of Maryland was the first court to throw away the paper in processing petty offenses, linking their Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system with the Central Violations Bureau (CVB), the national center charged with processing citations issued and payments received for petty offenses committed on federal property.
Bankruptcy Filings Continue Decline
Published onAugust 3, 2012
Bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2012, totaled 1,311,602 petitions, 14 percent less than the 1,529,560 filed in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2011, according to statistics released today by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
'First' Judge Steps Down in Rhode Island
Published onAugust 2, 2012
Arthur Votolato is a record-setter. He was the first bankruptcy judge to sit in Rhode Island, and for 44 years, he was the only U.S. bankruptcy judge to serve the state. He also enjoyed the distinction of being the longest continuously serving active bankruptcy judge in U.S. history.
Cameras Pilot One Year Later
Published onJuly 31, 2012
A year after the federal Judiciary began its cameras in the courtroom pilot program in 14 federal trial courts, 39 court proceedings are available online for public viewing on the Judiciary’s website. The video recordings and brief summaries of the cases are organized by court, subject matter, and procedural posture. The posted videos have been viewed over 28,000 times since the pilot began in July 2011.
Independence Day is a Popular Date for Naturalization Ceremonies
Published onJuly 26, 2012
Independence Day is a fitting date to take the oath of U.S. citizenship and many courts across the country hold naturalization ceremonies. And what says America more than a naturalization ceremony held on a famous aircraft carrier, or on the steps of an historic Town Hall.
Return to Sender? Centralized Processing to Save A Million
Published onJuly 23, 2012
The Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) begins accepting, processing and securely disposing of returned mail, saving the Judiciary over a million dollars.
New National Supervision Policy Redirects Resources
Published onJuly 19, 2012
A change in national policy will limit supervision of low-risk offenders in the federal system, redistributing scarce resources to supervise high-risk offenders.
What Happens When Cities Go Bankrupt?
Published onJuly 13, 2012
Over the last few weeks, municipalities have declared bankruptcy. Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code provides for reorganization of municipalities, which includes cities and towns, as well as villages, counties, taxing districts, municipal utilities, and school districts.
Workshops Give Courts Forum to Examine Effective Juror Management
Published onJuly 11, 2012
The potential trauma of high profile trials, the ubiquity of social media, tactics for reaching the plugged-in generation, and tips for maximizing jurors called for service in federal courts highlighted a recent workshop for court staff.
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing Fees to Increase
Published onJuly 6, 2012
Fees for filing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case will increase for cases filed on or after November 21, 2012. The fee increase was included in the Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2012 (Pub. L. No. 112-121) which was signed into law by the President on May 25, 2012.
Serving Our Courts, Serving Our Country
Published onJuly 3, 2012
Judge Frank Whitney joined the United States Army Reserve right out of college. When he was appointed a federal judge for the Western District of North Carolina, he continued to serve his country in the military. Last year the two jobs merged.
2011 Wiretap Report Shows Decrease in Requests for Authorized Intercepts
Published onJune 29, 2012
Federal and state applications for orders authorizing or approving wiretaps dropped 14 percent in 2011, with 85 percent of all applications citing illegal drugs as the offense under investigation.
Supreme Court Wraps Up 2011 Term
Published onJune 28, 2012
The Supreme Court has handed down the last of its decisions for the 2011 Term. A Term of the Supreme Court begins, by statute, on the first Monday in October and Court sessions continue until late June or early July. Learn more about how the court operates.d down the last of its decisions for the 2011 Term. Learn more about how the court operates.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Now an Established Practice in Federal Courts
Published onJune 25, 2012
Some 30 years after the federal district courts started experimenting with alternative dispute resolution, more than one third of all federal trial courts regularly offer multiple forms of ADR, according to an informal survey by the Federal Judicial Center.
Oldest-Serving Federal Judge, Tennis Hall of Famer, Dies at 99
Published onJune 21, 2012
Senior District Judge Robert J. Kelleher, at 99, the oldest-serving federal judge in the nation, died on June 20, 2012.