Judiciary News

In calendar year 2012, a total of 3,395 orders authorizing the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications, or wiretaps, were approved by state and federal judges. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) is required by statute to report to Congress the number of federal and state applications for orders authorizing or approving wiretaps.

PACER has seen a sharp rise in overall user satisfaction since a comparable survey was conducted in 2009, with 90 percent of users saying they are satisfied or highly satisfied with the internet-based public case information system.

In July, the American Judicature Society (AJS) celebrates its 100th year of advocacy on behalf of the courts. AJS President Dennis Courtland Hayes discusses his organization’s history and advocacy, including a recent statement urging more funding for the federal Judiciary.

Standing in the heart of the Aztec Ruins National Monument in northwest New Mexico, Chief Judge M. Christina Armijo of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico administered the Oath of Allegiance this month to ten new citizens of the United States.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. has appointed U.S. District Judge John D. Bates as Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Throughout May, federal courts brought students together under the umbrella of this year's Law Day theme, "Realizing the Dream: Equality for All."

Seeking to contain costs and improve efficiency, federal courts are developing plans to voluntarily share administrative services, as explained in a Third Branch News story and Judiciary Now video.

The Judicial Conference of the United States has requested $72.9 million in emergency funding, saying that a supplemental appropriation is needed to "address critical needs resulting from sequestration cuts."

A Judiciary initiative is rewarding courts for reducing their space needs, which will save on future space rental costs. One of the Judiciary's biggest cost-containment successes to date has been in limiting the growth in space rent costs.

Defendants charged with immigration offenses constitute 27 percent of all federal criminal defendant filings nationwide, a total of 25,328 filings in fiscal year 2012.

The 6th edition (pdf) of the Benchbook for U.S. District Court Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center, is now available online. The book, last updated in 2007, is a concise and practical guide to situations federal judges are likely to encounter on the bench. The Benchbook covers procedures that are required by statute, rule or case law, with detailed guidance from experienced trial judges.

Bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2013, fell 14.4 percent when compared to bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2012, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

"When you confront something that you, initially, perceive as an adversity—that's what builds character. That's your glorious moment," according to U.S. District Court Judge Myron H. Thompson, who presides in Montgomery, Ala.

Statement of Chief Judge William B. Traxler, Jr., Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States.