Judiciary News

Bankruptcy filings fell by 0.9 percent for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2019, compared with the year ending March 31, 2018. 

In a new U.S. Courts video 40 Washington, D.C., area students participate in a realistic simulation of a student free speech case based on the 1969 landmark Tinker v. Des Moines.

The Central District of California has the largest number of women in top leadership positions across all 94 federal judicial districts.

Over the past year, the federal Judiciary launched an aggressive effort to address workplace conduct issues, achieved one of its top cost-saving goals, and maintained its commitment to excellence in public service, reported James C. Duff, the director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), in his annual summary of the Judiciary’s activities.

The federal Judiciary’s national policy-making body today approved a package of workplace conduct-related amendments stating the obligations of judges and Judiciary employees to report reliable information likely to constitute misconduct; making clear that confidentiality obligations should never be an obstacle to reporting judicial misconduct or disability; and specifying that retaliation for disclosing misconduct is itself misconduct.

Throughout 2018, the federal Judiciary celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Federal Magistrates Act of 1968, which established the magistrate judge system.

U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson, who grew up during the Dust Bowl and Depression in Texas, attended law school as one of a half-dozen female classmates more than a half century ago, and later had a federal courthouse named in her honor, died Jan. 26 at the age of 92.

Bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending December 31, 2018, fell 2 percent, compared with bankruptcy cases filed in calendar year 2017.  

A new continuing resolution that was signed into law last Friday will fund the Judiciary’s fiscal year 2019 operations through Feb. 15.

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) now estimates that federal courts can sustain funded operations through Jan. 31, 2019. The Judiciary continues to explore ways to conserve funds so it can sustain paid operations through Feb. 1.  

During the partial shutdown of the federal government, which began Dec. 22, 2018, the Judiciary has continued to operate by using court fee balances and other “no-year” funds. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts now estimates that federal courts can sustain paid operations through Jan. 25, 2019.

During the partial shutdown of the federal government, which began Dec. 22, 2018, the Judiciary has continued to operate by using court fee balances and other “no-year” funds. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has revised its original estimate and now is working toward the goal of sustaining paid operations through Jan. 18, 2019.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., has issued his 2018 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary.

Despite a partial shutdown of the federal government, the Judiciary remains open and can continue operations for approximately three weeks, through Jan. 11, 2019, by using court fee balances and other funds not dependent on a new appropriation.

From preparation to recovery, court offices affected by a rough storm season implemented unique strategies, some consulting with courts affected by past natural disasters to learn how to restore court operations as quickly as possible.