Chief Justice Names Conference Committee Chairs

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. has named eight new chairs of Judicial Conference committees and extended the term of a current chair by one year. The appointments took effect on Oct. 1, 2020.

• Judge Randolph D. Moss (DC) succeeded Chief Judge Ricardo S. Martinez (WA-W) as chair of the Committee on Criminal Law.
• Judge Micaela Alvarez (TX-S) succeeded Judge Raymond J. Lohier, Jr. (Second Circuit) as chair of the Committee on Defender Services.
• Judge David L. Bunning (KY-E) succeeded Judge Anthony John Trenga (VA-E) as chair of the Committee on Financial Disclosure.
• Judge Thomas M. Hardiman (Third Circuit) was extended for another year as chair of the Committee on Information Technology.
• Judge William B. Traxler, Jr . (Fourth Circuit) succeeded Judge Anthony J. Scirica (Third Circuit) as chair of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability.
• Judge John D. Bates (DC) succeeded Judge David G. Campbell (AZ) as chair of the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure.
• Judge Jay S. Bybee (Ninth Circuit) succeeded Judge Michael A. Chagares (Third Circuit) as chair of the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules.
• Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. (IL-N) succeeded Judge John D. Bates (DC) as chair of the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules.
• Judge Patrick J. Schiltz (MN) succeeded Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston (Second Circuit) as chair of the Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules.

The 26-member 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 meets twice a year to consider administrative and policy issues affecting the court system, and to make recommendations to Congress concerning legislation involving the Judicial Branch.