News and Announcements

All 80 federal defender organizations in districts across the country have begun using a new web-based system, defenderData, to manage their case information; schedule events, generate, edit, index and search case-related documents, and produce reports.

A public education program housed in the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse has received the St. Louis Bar Foundation’s Spirit of Justice Award, for its excellence in teaching young audiences about the workings of the courts.

A comprehensive review of case record assets at the District Court of the Virgin Islands uncovered historic documents dating back to 1767 — when Denmark still owned the islands and the American colonies had yet to declare their independence from Great Britain.

You have until November 30, 2012 to apply for one of the most unique Fellowships in the federal Judiciary. The Supreme Court Fellows Program offers the opportunity not only to learn about the issues facing the Judiciary—but to contribute to the work of the Supreme Court, Federal Judicial Center, Administrative Office of the United States Courts and United States Sentencing Commission.

Marcia Anderson is the bankruptcy clerk of court for the Western District of Wisconsin. She also is the nation's first female African American major general in the U.S. Army Reserve. Her story and how she balances these two very different worlds are the themes of a new "Serving Our Courts, Serving Our Country" video, released by the United States Courts to honor Veterans Day 2012.

Bankruptcy cases filed in federal courts for fiscal year 2012, the 12-month period ending September 30, 2012, totaled 1,261,140, down 14 percent from the 1,467,221 bankruptcy cases filed in FY 2011, according to statistics released today by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Former Senator Evan Bayh and Senator Richard Lugar were recognized for their service to the federal Judiciary by the judges from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Hurricane Sandy, which caused widespread chaos throughout the Northeast, has put federal courts based in Manhattan in their worst operational crisis since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In addition to debates, rallies, and political ads, election season often includes litigation. The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) has published a collection of 80 case studies on emergency election litigation in federal courts.

UPDATED: Most federal courts in states hit by Hurricane Sandy have reopened, but power failures continue to shut down four courts in Manhattan.