Judiciary News

On Aug. 20, 1964, the President signed into law the Criminal Justice Act, guaranteeing paid legal counsel for federal criminal defendants who could not afford it. Fifty years later, many hail the CJA and the federal defenders system as a shining success.

In the latest On Topic interview, U.S. Judge Irene M. Keeley discusses the federal supervision system.

A new “Court Shorts” video, focusing on the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, has been released by the federal judiciary, expanding a series of short video and audio podcasts that teach young people about our nation’s Constitution, courts and individual rights.

A new juror scam email, which fraudulently seeks personal information that could aid identity theft, has been reported in at least 14 federal court districts.

Bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2014, fell 12 percent when compared to bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2013, according to new statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Social media use by jurors, and the problems resulting from it, remains a relatively infrequent occurrence, according to a survey of U.S. district judges.

Individuals filing for bankruptcy in 2013 reported fewer assets, lower total liabilities, and lower median income when compared to filers in the preceding year, according to a report recently filed by the federal Judiciary with Congress. The report also found that in 2013 a greater proportion of debtors were repeat filers.

In a space-cutting move that will save the judiciary more than $1 million a year in rent and security costs, the federal bankruptcy court in Miami is moving into a nearby district court building.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission recommended to retroactively apply lower drug guideline ranges for previously sentenced offenders.

Beginning 15 years ago, noted publisher and First Amendment advocate John Seigenthaler met annually with groups of journalists and federal judges in an effort to help them better understand each other. By all accounts, Seigethaler, who died July 11, 2014, made great progress.

The Judicial Conference supports criminal justice reforms intended to ease prison crowding, but a federal judge told a House task force that that the Judiciary currently lacks the resources to shoulder resulting increased workload.

U.S. District Judge Gustavo Gelpi, Jr., is the first Article III federal judge to serve as president of the Federal Bar Association. In a new “On Topic” audio interview, he explains the association’s role in defending federal courts.

In celebration of July Fourth, citizens, attorneys and federal judges from across the country reflect on what independence means and how the U.S. courts protect their freedoms. In a brief video, participants from Washington, New York City and San Francisco also share their thoughts on two key phrases from the Declaration of Independence: "All men are created equal," and "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

The number of federal and state wiretaps authorized in 2013 increased 5 percent over 2012, with telephone wiretaps the most common form of surveillance. As of December 31, 2013, 709 persons had been convicted as a result of authorized interceptions, up 56 percent from 2012.

In 2012, Super Storm Sandy destroyed an estimated 650,000 homes and affected over 300,000 businesses along the Atlantic seaboard. Affected homeowners and businesses have filed over 1,000 Super Storm Sandy-related insurance coverage actions in the Eastern District of New York. That number is expected to double or even triple in the coming months.