Strategic Plan for the Federal Judiciary

The federal judiciary is respected throughout the United States of America and the world for its excellence, for the independence of its judges, and for its delivery of equal justice under the law. Through this plan, the judiciary identifies a set of strategies that will enable it to continue as a model in providing fair and impartial justice.

This plan begins with expressions of the mission and core values of the federal judiciary. Although any plan is by nature aspirational, these are constants that this plan strives to preserve. The aim is to stimulate and promote beneficial change within the federal judiciary that helps fulfill, and is consistent with, the mission and core values.

Mission

The United States Courts are an independent, national judiciary providing fair and impartial justice within the jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution and Congress. As an equal branch of government, the federal judiciary preserves and enhances its core values as the courts meet changing national and local needs.

Core Values

Rule of Law: legal predictability, continuity, and coherence; reasoned decisions made through publicly visible processes and based faithfully on the law.

Equal Justice: fairness and impartiality in the administration of justice; accessibility of court processes; treatment of all with dignity and respect.

Judicial Independence: the ability to render justice without fear that decisions may threaten tenure, compensation, or security; sufficient structural autonomy for the judiciary as an equal branch of government in matters of internal governance and management.

An Exemplary Workplace: a workplace in which everyone is treated with dignity, civility, and respect; consisting of highly qualified and dedicated individuals; and in which diverse viewpoints and backgrounds are valued.

Accountability: stringent standards of conduct; self-enforcement of legal and ethical rules; responsible stewardship of public funds and property; effective and efficient use of resources.

Excellence: adherence to the highest jurisprudential and administrative standards; effective recruitment, development, and retention of highly competent judges and employees; commitment to innovative management and administration; availability of sufficient financial and other resources.

Service: commitment to the faithful discharge of official duties; allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States; dedication to meeting the needs of jurors, court users, and the public in a timely and effective manner.

The Plan in Brief

The Strategic Plan for the Federal Judiciary, updated in 2025, continues the judiciary’s tradition of meeting challenges and maximizing opportunities while preserving its core values. It takes into consideration various trends and priorities affecting the judiciary, in an effort to continue the judiciary’s ability to perform its mission effectively. In addition, this plan recognizes that the future may provide tremendous opportunities for improving the fair and impartial delivery of justice.

This plan anticipates a future in which the federal judiciary remains respected and admired for its accessibility, timeliness, and efficiency; attracts to judicial service the nation’s finest legal talent; is an employer of choice, providing an exemplary workplace for a group of highly qualified judges and employees; works effectively with the other branches of government; and enjoys the people’s trust and confidence.

This plan serves as an agenda outlining actions aimed at preserving the judiciary’s successes and, where appropriate, bringing about positive change. Although its stated goals and strategies do not include every important activity, project, initiative, or study that is underway or being considered, this plan focuses on priorities that affect the judiciary at large and on responding to those matters in ways that benefit the entire judicial branch and the public it serves.

This plan identifies five priorities for the judiciary, providing strategies and goals for meeting each priority. The priorities include providing fair and impartial justice; enhancing the public’s trust and confidence in, and understanding of, the federal courts, and the courts’ relationships with the other branches of government; efficiently and effectively managing resources; maintaining an exemplary workplace; and realizing technology’s value.

Strategic Priorities for the Federal Judiciary

The strategies and goals in this plan are organized around five priorities, which are not listed in order of importance. These are fundamental policy questions or challenges that are based on an assessment of key trends affecting the judiciary’s mission and core values:

Priority 1:   Providing Fair and Impartial Justice

Priority 2:   Enhancing Public Trust and Strengthening Relationships with Other Branches of Government

Priority 3:   Efficiently and Effectively Managing Public Resources

Priority 4:   Maintaining an Exemplary Judiciary Workforce and Workplace

Priority 5:   Realizing Technology's Full Value and Managing Its Risks

These priorities also consider the judiciary’s organizational culture. The strategies and goals developed to advance these priorities are designed to operate within the judiciary’s decentralized systems of governance and administration.

Download the report (PDF).