Judiciary News
Pro Se Centers Help Even the Odds for Litigants Without Lawyers
![Taking part in a recent ribbon cutting in Brooklyn are, from left, Lynn Kelly, executive director of the City Bar Justice Center; Debra L. Raskin, New York City Bar Association president; Chief Judge Carol B. Amon, Eastern District of New York; Magistrate Taking part in a recent ribbon cutting in Brooklyn are, from left, Lynn Kelly, executive director of the City Bar Justice Center; Debra L. Raskin, New York City Bar Association president; Chief Judge Carol B. Amon, Eastern District of New York; Magistrate](/sites/all/modules/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif)
Published onAugust 20, 2015
When litigants come to federal court without a lawyer, they are at a disadvantage. Even if their case is strong, they can easily get lost in a maze of procedural rules and arcane terminology. A single error can doom their chances, long before a trial date is set. In the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, that is changing. Since late March, an innovative program has provided critical legal help to more than 150 low-income pro se litigants—people who must, usually for financial reasons, file or defend a civil lawsuit without a lawyer.
Video Examines Probation, Changing Offender Behavior
Published onAugust 18, 2015
The tales of how two criminal offenders successfully returned to society after years in federal prison are at the heart of a new U.S. Courts video, in which a U.S. District judge, a federal probation services official and a probation officer based in Wisconsin discuss how courts help former offenders become law-abiding citizens.
Life Sentences in the Federal Justice System
Published onAugust 13, 2015
A recent report from the U.S. Sentencing Commission looks at the relatively rare sentence of life imprisonment in the federal justice system.
Judicial Heroes’ Courthouses Named Landmarks
![National Park Service presents plaque to Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama on July 20, 2015. National Park Service presents plaque to Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama on July 20, 2015.](/sites/all/modules/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif)
Published onAugust 7, 2015
The memories of three legendary federal judges, who overcame deep-seated southern resistance to end segregation for millions of African Americans, were honored recently when the courthouses named after them were declared national historic landmarks.
Court Takes Direct Hit From Typhoon Soudelor
![Horiguchi Federal Building in Garapan, Saipan Horiguchi Federal Building in Garapan, Saipan](/sites/all/modules/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif)
Published onAugust 6, 2015
The last week of July, Gregg Miller traveled from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ Washington, DC office to Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands for planning meetings on a local courthouse project. He was just in time to ride out in his hotel his first typhoon.
Courthouse, Federal Reserve Educate Teachers About Law, Economy
![Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Finneran lectures school teachers about financial fraud prosecutions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Finneran lectures school teachers about financial fraud prosecutions.](/sites/all/modules/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif)
Published onJuly 30, 2015
An unusual partnership between the U.S. Courts and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has given 40 school teachers a close-up look at how the law and a healthy economy are interrelated.
Bankruptcy Filings Down 12 Percent Since Last June
Published onJuly 28, 2015
Bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2015, fell 12 percent when compared to bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2014, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Academy Gives Probation and Pretrial Officers ‘National Identity’
Published onJuly 23, 2015
The National Training Academy, credited with giving a “national identity” to the Judiciary’s 5,000 probation and pretrial services officers, has grown dramatically since it opened 10 years ago, according to a newly released U.S. Courts video.
2014 Report Shows Fewer Debtors Filing for Bankruptcy, But More Repeat Filers
Published onJuly 21, 2015
Bankruptcy petitions filed by individuals with consumer debt were down in 2014 when compared with 2013; more individuals filed for bankruptcy protection under plans that included installment payments to creditors; and for more individuals, this wasn’t the first time they’d filed for bankruptcy in the last 8 years.
Two Senior Judges in Their Nineties Share Lifetime of Service
Published onJuly 16, 2015
As they enter their mid- to late-sixties, many in the U.S. workforce will look forward to retirement and the pursuit of other interests. When Judges Edward McManus and Don O’Brien in the Northern District of Iowa reached the ages of 65 and 69, respectively, they took senior status. But unlike the general workforce, they didn’t retire. Decades later, they’re still on the job.
Ten Years of Online Clerkship Hiring
Published onJuly 8, 2015
Ten years and approximately 9,000 clerkship position postings ago, the federal Judiciary launched the Online System for Clerkship Applications and Review, or OSCAR. The information and application system created a transparent online law clerk hiring process for applicants and law schools, while giving federal judges a way to communicate their hiring practices and timelines.
2014 Wiretap Report: Intercept Applications Down Slightly
![Map of wiretaps reported by each Federal Judicial District for 2014. Map of wiretaps reported by each Federal Judicial District for 2014.](/sites/all/modules/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif)
Published onJuly 1, 2015
The number of federal and state wiretaps authorized in 2014 decreased 1 percent from 2013. The most serious offense under investigation in 89 percent of all applications for intercepts was illegal drugs.
Celebrating 50 Years of the Criminal Justice Act
Published onJune 25, 2015
A recent public symposium celebrated 50 years of the Criminal Justice Act with panels on the challenges, choices and commitments of federal defense efforts, and what can be learned from effective defense practices outside the United States.
Did You Know? Imprisonment Costs 8 times More Than Supervision
![According to this infographic, it costs roughly eight times more to imprison or detain a federal defendant than it does to place them under community supervision.](/sites/all/modules/lazyloader/image_placeholder.gif)
Published onJune 18, 2015
Community supervision of federal offenders continues to cost significantly less than incarceration, according to FY 2014 data provided by the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
CJA Study Committee Begins Accepting Comments
Published onJune 8, 2015
An Ad Hoc Committee to conduct a comprehensive and impartial review of the administration and operation of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) has begun accepting public comments.