Federal Judiciary site contains information about the federal judiciary bout the U.S. Courts, publications and directories, news and information , employment opportunities, the Federal Judiciary Channel , and inks. Understanding the Federal Courts provides an explanation of the federal court system.
The Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference meets twice yearly to consider policy issues affecting the federal courts, to make recommendations to Congress on legislation affecting the judicial system, to propose amendments to the federal rules of practice and procedure, and to consider the administrative problems of the courts.
Judicial Councils
Every circuit has its own judicial council, which consists of the chief judge of the circuit and an equal number of court of appeals and district judges from that circuit. The council has the power to take steps that may be required to efficiently manage the caseload of the district courts and courts of appeals, including the assignment of judges.
Administrative Office of the United States Courts
Many support functions for the federal court system are performed by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO). The AO was created in 1939 by Congress as an administrative body for the courts that functions independently of the executive branch. The courts formerly had received such services from the Department of Justice. The AO is directed and supervised by the Judicial Conference. In that capacity, the AO prepares and submits the budget and legislative agenda for the courts to the Judicial Conference for transmittal to Congress. The AO monitors legislation that affects federal court operations and personnel, and also provides administrative assistance to the court of appeals, district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges, clerks of court, pretrial services officers, probation officers, court reporters, public defenders, and other court personnel. The AO performs audits (financial examinations of court accounts); manages funds for the operation of the courts; compiles and publishes statistics on the volume and distribution of the business in the courts; and recommends plans and strategies to efficiently manage court business.
Congress established the Federal Judicial Center in 1967 "to further the development and adoption of improved judicial administration in the courts of the United States." The FJC has five primary functions: to conduct research and study the operation of the federal courts; to develop and present for consideration by the Judicial Conference recommendations for improvement of the administration of the federal courts; to stimulate, create, develop, and conduct programs of continuing education and training for personnel of the judicial branch; to provide, if requested by the Conference or a committee chair, staff assistance to the Judicial Conference and its committees; and to cooperate with the State Justice Institute in the establishment and coordination of research and programs concerning the administration of justice.
The FJC makes many publications available on the internet.