News and Announcements

A new juror scam email, which fraudulently seeks personal information that could aid identity theft, has been reported in at least 14 federal court districts.

Bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2014, fell 12 percent when compared to bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2013, according to new statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Social media use by jurors, and the problems resulting from it, remains a relatively infrequent occurrence, according to a survey of U.S. district judges.

Individuals filing for bankruptcy in 2013 reported fewer assets, lower total liabilities, and lower median income when compared to filers in the preceding year, according to a report recently filed by the federal Judiciary with Congress. The report also found that in 2013 a greater proportion of debtors were repeat filers.

In a space-cutting move that will save the judiciary more than $1 million a year in rent and security costs, the federal bankruptcy court in Miami is moving into a nearby district court building.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission recommended to retroactively apply lower drug guideline ranges for previously sentenced offenders.

Beginning 15 years ago, noted publisher and First Amendment advocate John Seigenthaler met annually with groups of journalists and federal judges in an effort to help them better understand each other. By all accounts, Seigethaler, who died July 11, 2014, made great progress.

The Judicial Conference supports criminal justice reforms intended to ease prison crowding, but a federal judge told a House task force that that the Judiciary currently lacks the resources to shoulder resulting increased workload.

U.S. District Judge Gustavo Gelpi, Jr., is the first Article III federal judge to serve as president of the Federal Bar Association. In a new “On Topic” audio interview, he explains the association’s role in defending federal courts.

In celebration of July Fourth, citizens, attorneys and federal judges from across the country reflect on what independence means and how the U.S. courts protect their freedoms. In a brief video, participants from Washington, New York City and San Francisco also share their thoughts on two key phrases from the Declaration of Independence: "All men are created equal," and "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."