Judiciary News
Tropical Storm Isaac Closes Courthouses in the Gulf Region
Published onAugust 27, 2012
UPDATED: August 30, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. – In the Southern District of Alabama, the federal courthouse will be closed Wednesday, August 29, 2012, due to the effects from Tropical Storm Isaac. Normal operations will resume on Thursday, August 30, 2012.
Revised Jury Instructions Hope to Deter Juror Use of Social Media During Trial
Published onAugust 21, 2012
A Judicial Conference Committee has updated the model set of jury instructions federal judges use to deter jurors from using social media to research or communicate about cases on which they serve.
Public Comment Period and Revamped Website Open
Published onAugust 16, 2012
The public comment period has opened for several proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure, which govern litigation in the federal courts. The comment period closes February 15, 2013.
Webinars Ease Law Clerk Application Process
Published onAugust 14, 2012
Law schools are looking ahead to another law clerk hiring season. Just in time, a series of informational webinars hosted by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts are bringing them up to speed on the federal Judiciary’s Online System for Clerkship Application and Review, or OSCAR.
Topeka Federal Courthouse in Energy-Reduction Race
Published onAugust 9, 2012
The Frank Carlson Federal Building and Courthouse in Topeka, Kansas is in an energy race with seven other finalists nationwide. The contestants—federal buildings that include a military exchange, a research facility and an office building—vie to consume the least amount of energy this fiscal year and win the Better Buildings Federal Award.
Linked Systems Automate Petty Offense Case Management for First Time
Published onAugust 7, 2012
In July, the District of Maryland was the first court to throw away the paper in processing petty offenses, linking their Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system with the Central Violations Bureau (CVB), the national center charged with processing citations issued and payments received for petty offenses committed on federal property.
Bankruptcy Filings Continue Decline
Published onAugust 3, 2012
Bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2012, totaled 1,311,602 petitions, 14 percent less than the 1,529,560 filed in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2011, according to statistics released today by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
'First' Judge Steps Down in Rhode Island
Published onAugust 2, 2012
Arthur Votolato is a record-setter. He was the first bankruptcy judge to sit in Rhode Island, and for 44 years, he was the only U.S. bankruptcy judge to serve the state. He also enjoyed the distinction of being the longest continuously serving active bankruptcy judge in U.S. history.
Cameras Pilot One Year Later
Published onJuly 31, 2012
A year after the federal Judiciary began its cameras in the courtroom pilot program in 14 federal trial courts, 39 court proceedings are available online for public viewing on the Judiciary’s website. The video recordings and brief summaries of the cases are organized by court, subject matter, and procedural posture. The posted videos have been viewed over 28,000 times since the pilot began in July 2011.
Independence Day is a Popular Date for Naturalization Ceremonies
Published onJuly 26, 2012
Independence Day is a fitting date to take the oath of U.S. citizenship and many courts across the country hold naturalization ceremonies. And what says America more than a naturalization ceremony held on a famous aircraft carrier, or on the steps of an historic Town Hall.
Return to Sender? Centralized Processing to Save A Million
Published onJuly 23, 2012
The Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) begins accepting, processing and securely disposing of returned mail, saving the Judiciary over a million dollars.
New National Supervision Policy Redirects Resources
Published onJuly 19, 2012
A change in national policy will limit supervision of low-risk offenders in the federal system, redistributing scarce resources to supervise high-risk offenders.
What Happens When Cities Go Bankrupt?
Published onJuly 13, 2012
Over the last few weeks, municipalities have declared bankruptcy. Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code provides for reorganization of municipalities, which includes cities and towns, as well as villages, counties, taxing districts, municipal utilities, and school districts.
Workshops Give Courts Forum to Examine Effective Juror Management
Published onJuly 11, 2012
The potential trauma of high profile trials, the ubiquity of social media, tactics for reaching the plugged-in generation, and tips for maximizing jurors called for service in federal courts highlighted a recent workshop for court staff.
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing Fees to Increase
Published onJuly 6, 2012
Fees for filing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case will increase for cases filed on or after November 21, 2012. The fee increase was included in the Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2012 (Pub. L. No. 112-121) which was signed into law by the President on May 25, 2012.