Judiciary News

An innovative Chicago probation office, described as a federal Judiciary “flagship” in efficient, economical space design, is the subject of a newly released U.S. Courts video.

Detailed plans for building eight new federal court facilities have been sent to Congress, spelling out how an unprecedented $947.8 million appropriation included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 will be used to replace buildings that are obsolete, lack adequate security and in many cases are too small to handle current caseloads.

A 2014 change in federal drug sentencing guidelines has led to an unprecedented number of inmates receiving shortened prison terms, according to data from a new U.S. Sentencing Commission study.

A new judicial learning center and museum located in Oklahoma City is teaching schoolchildren and the general public about federal courts and the rule of law.

A new U.S. Sentencing Commission study of sentence reductions for cooperating offenders reveals substantial differences in two ways offenders receive credit for their assistance. 

Across the United States, individuals posing as federal court officials and U.S. Marshals are targeting citizens, threatening them with arrest unless they pay.

The federal courts and the General Services Administration are moving forward with an “unprecedented collaboration” to improve property management services, in some cases in a more cost-efficient manner.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today adopted a new system of case weights that will help it fine-tune its requests for new district judgeships; moved to seek legislation to preserve temporary bankruptcy judgeships that will lapse next year; and addressed sentencing reform legislation that would impact court workloads.

Reports on the 2015 caseload of the federal courts and the activities of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts were released today.

The Southern District of Illinois is committed to involvement in their local community through a variety of ways including tutoring children and working with the local food pantry. Learn why it's so important for this community in East St. Louis, Illinois.

The federal Judiciary is actively trimming costs for courthouses and office space, and is working to ensure that recently appropriated funds for eight courthouse construction projects will be spent efficiently, a House subcommittee was told by the head of the Judiciary’s Space and Facilities Committee.

In a new U.S. Courts video, U.S. District Court Judge Lorna G. Schofield, New York City, tells how she coped with the adult responsibilities of growing up with a chronically ill mother. She encourages teens to take the long view:  “You can make a completely different life for yourself. And it’s important to remember that when things just seem too hard right now.”

The federal Judiciary transmitted its fiscal year 2017 budget request to Congress, seeking $7.0 billion in discretionary appropriations, a 3.2 percent increase above fiscal year 2016 funding. Of that, $5.1 billion is for courts’ salaries and expenses, which fund the operating expenses of the regional circuit courts of appeals, district and bankruptcy courts, and probation and pretrial services offices. 

During the 12-month period ending December 31, 2015, 844,495 cases were filed in federal bankruptcy courts, down from the 936,795 bankruptcy cases filed in calendar year 2014—a 9.9 percent drop in filings. 

Profiles of seven African American federal judges, who overcame various obstacles on their path to the bench, are featured on the US Courts YouTube channel in recognition of African American history month.