Judicial Conference News Releases

The Judicial Conference of the United States today voted to make a judge-specific workload report available for the first time over the Internet at no charge and also approved a courtroom sharing policy for magistrate judges in new courthouse and courtroom construction.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today adopted a revised Code of Conduct for United States Judges that will take effect July 1, 2009, the first substantial Code revision since 1992. At its biannual meeting, the Conference also voted to ask Congress to create 63 new federal judgeships — 12 in the courts of appeals (nine permanent and three temporary) and 51 in the district courts (38 permanent and 13 temporary).

In furtherance of its aggressive cost containment efforts, the Judicial Conference of the United States today adopted a policy for senior trial judges to share courtrooms in new construction. In addition, the Conference took steps to develop and implement a courtroom sharing policy for magistrate judges, to study the feasibility of and develop an appropriate policy for sharing courtrooms by non-senior district judges in large courthouses, and to study courtroom use in bankruptcy courts, and if the results warrant, develop a sharing policy for those courtrooms.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today approved the first-ever binding, nationwide set of rules for handling conduct and disability complaints against federal judges, bringing consistency and rigor to the process.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today voted to make transcripts of federal district and bankruptcy court proceedings available online through the Judiciary's Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today voted to ask Congress to create 67 new federal judgeships-15 for the courts of appeals and 52 for the district courts.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today approved two policies aimed at aiding and enhancing judges' compliance with established ethical obligations.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today affirmed its continued support for legislation that would let the Judiciary assume responsibility from the General Services Administration (GSA) for the management, operation, repair, leasing, and construction of federal courthouses.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today passed a resolution recognizing the late Chief Justice Rehnquist for his "integrity, courtesy, deep humility, and courage." 

The Judicial Conference of the United States today said off-site security for judges is “of the gravest concern to the federal Judiciary” and will be the top priority in discussions with the Attorney General and Director of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today agreed to implement a number of sweeping cost-containment measures, including a two-year moratorium on 42 federal courthouse construction projects.

Potential funding shortages that could eliminate or severely restrict key federal court operations, and the latest step to increase Internet access to court case files highlighted the agenda of today’s meeting of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

The federal courts’ policy-making body voted today to support repeal of a new law that severely limits the ability of trial judges to depart from Sentencing Guidelines and requires reports to Congress on any federal judge who does so.

The Judicial Conference of the United States today voted to ask Congress to create a total of 57 new federal judgeships—11 for the courts of appeals and 46 for the district courts.

The Judicial Conference of the United States was told by Attorney General John Ashcroft today that the Bush Administration supports creation of new judgeships to help federal courts in dire need of relief.