News and Announcements

Courts throughout the east are bracing for Hurricane Sandy. Several have posted closure notices on their court Internet sites.

Judge Thomas F. Hogan, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, has received the prestigious Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award.

Two federal courthouses in California—the James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse in San Francisco and the Spring Street Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles—have been designated national landmarks by the U.S. Determent of Interior.

Chief Justice John Roberts Jr, has named five new Judicial Conference committee chairs and extended the terms of three current committee chairs, effective October 1, 2012.

Who knew vampires were into social media? A student vampire club, calling themselves The Fangtastics, goes to court when high school administrators drive a stake through the heart of their online postings.

Four Fellows have been selected to participate in the 2012-2013 Supreme Court Fellows Program beginning this fall. The Fellows Program was created in 1973 by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, and offers, in the words of Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., "a unique opportunity for exceptional individuals to contribute to the administration of justice at the national level."

The Western District of Washington hosted a multi-district, multi-agency emergency preparedness summit this summer, bringing together representatives from the federal courts, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other government agencies.

A gavel changed hands in the Central District of California last week as the district welcomed its new chief judge.

By law, the Supreme Court of the United States starts its new term the first Monday in October -- a practice that has occurred for nearly 100 years.

A new federal courthouse was dedicated last month in downtown Billings, Montana. The District of Montana’s court family, guests, and invited speaker, Administrative Office Director Judge Thomas Hogan officially opened the courthouse, which replaces an aging facility with significant security and asbestos problems.