JUDICIAL BRANCH THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES United States Supreme Court Building 1 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20543 Phone, 202-479-3000 Members: ........ Chief Justice of the United States ........William H. Rehnquist Associate Justices ........Harry A. Blackmun, John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, David H. Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Officers: ........ Clerk ........William K. Suter Reporter of Decisions ........Frank D. Wagner Librarian ........Shelley L. Dowling Marshal ........Alfred Wong Article III, section 1, of the Constitution of the United States provides that ``[t]he judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.'' The Supreme Court of the United States was created in accordance with this provision and by authority of the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789 (1 Stat. 73). It was organized on February 2, 1790. The Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice of the United States and such number of Associate Justices as may be fixed by Congress. Under that authority, and by virtue of act of June 25, 1948 (28 U.S.C. 1), the number of Associate Justices is eight. Pow er to nominate the Justices is vested in the President of the United States, and appointments are made with the advice and consent of the Senate. Article III, section 1, of the Constitution further provides that ``[t]he Judges, both of the supreme and inf erior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.'' A Justice may, if so desired, retire at the age of 70 after serving for 10 years as a Federal judge or at age 65 after 15 years of service. The Clerk, the Reporter of Decisions, the Librarian, and the Marshal are appointed by the Court to assist in the performance of its functions. Other Court officers, including the Administrative Assistant, the Court Counsel, the Curator, the Director of Da ta Systems, and the Public Information Officer, are appointed by the Chief Justice to assist him with the administrative aspects of his position. The library is open to members of the bar of the Court, attorneys for the various Federal departments and agencies, and Members of Congress. Only members of the bar of the Court may practice before the Supreme Court. The library is open to members of the bar of the Court, attorneys for the various Federal departments and agencies, and Members of Congress. Only members of the bar of the Court may practice before the Supreme Court. The term of the Court begins, by law, the first Monday in October of each year and continues as long as the business before the Court requires, usually until about the end of June. Six members constitute a quorum. Approximately 7,000 cases are passed upon in the course of a term. In addition, some 1,200 applications of various kinds are filed each year that can be acted upon by a single Justice. Jurisdiction According to the Constitution (art. III, sec. 2), ``[t]he judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Auth ority; -- to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; -- to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; -- to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; -- to Controversies between two or more States; -- b etween a State and Citizens of another State; -- between Citizens of different States; -- between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Sub jects. ``In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appell ate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.'' Appellate jurisdiction has been conferred upon the Supreme Court by various statutes, under the authority given Congress by the Constitution. The basic statute effective at this time in conferring and controlling jurisdiction of the Supreme Cour t may be found in 28 U.S.C. 1251, 1253, 1254, 1257-1259, and various special statutes. Congress has no authority to change the original jurisdiction of this Court. Rulemaking Power Congress has from time to time conferred upon the Supreme Court power to prescribe rules of procedure to be followed by the lower courts of the United States. Pursuant to these statutes there are now in force rules promulgated by the Cour t to govern civil and criminal cases in the district courts, bankruptcy proceedings, admiralty cases, appellate proceedings, and the trial of misdemeanors before U.S. magistrate judges. For further information concerning the Supreme Court, contact the Public Information Office, United States Supreme Court Building, 1 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20543. Phone, 202-479-3211. Lower Courts Article III of the Constitution declares, in section 1, that the judicial power of the United States shall be invested in one Supreme Court and in ``such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.'' The Supreme C ourt has held that these constitutional courts `` . . . share in the exercise of the judicial power defined in that section, can be invested with no other jurisdiction, and have judges who hold office during good behavior, with no power in Congress to pro vide otherwise.'' United States Courts of Appeals The courts of appeals are intermediate appellate courts created by act of March 3, 1891 (28 U.S.C. ch. 3), to relieve the Supreme Court of considering all appeals in cases originally decided by the Federal trial courts. The y are empowered to review all final decisions and certain interlocutory decisions (18 U.S.C. 3731, 3734; 28 U.S.C. 1291, 1292) of district courts. They also are empowered to review and enforce orders of many Federal administrative bodies. The decisions of the courts of appeals are final except as they are subject to discretionary review or appeal in the Supreme Court. The United States is divided geographically into 12 judicial circuits, including the District of Columbia. Each circuit has a court of appeals (28 U.S.C. 41, 1294). Each of the 50 States is assigned to one of the circuits, and the Territories ar e assigned variously to the first, third, and ninth circuits. There is also a Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has nationwide jurisdiction defined by subject matter. At present each court of appeals has from 6 to 28 permanent circuit judges hips (179 in all), depending upon the amount of judicial work in the circuit. Circuit judges hold their offices during good behavior as provided by Article III, section 1, of the Constitution. The judge senior in commission who is under 70 years of age (6 5 at inception of term), has been in office at least 1 year, and has not previously been chief judge, serves as the chief judge of the circuit for a 7-year term. One of the justices of the Supreme Court is assigned as circuit justice for each of the 13 ju dicial circuits. Each court of appeals normally hears cases in panels consisting of three judges but may sit en banc with all judges present. The judges of each circuit by vote determine the size of the judicial council for the circuit, which consists of the chief judge and an equal number of circuit and district judges. The council considers the state of Federal judicial business in the circuit and may ``make all necessary and appropriate orders for [its] effective and expeditious administration . . .'' (28 U.S.C. 332). The chief judge of each circuit summons annually a judicial conference of all circuit and district judges in the ci rcuit, and sometimes members of the bar, to discuss the business of the Federal courts of the circuit (28 U.S.C. 333). The chief judge of each circuit and a district judge elected from each of the 12 geographical circuits, together with the chief judge of the Court of International Trade, serve as members of the Judicial Conference of the United States, over which the Chief Justice of the United States presides. This is the governing body for the administration of the Federal judicial system as a whole (2 8 U.S.C. 331). United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit This court was established under Article III of the Constitution pursuant to the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982 (28 U.S.C. 1 note), as successor to the former United States Court of Customs an d Patent Appeals and the United States Court of Claims. The jurisdiction of the court is nationwide (as provided by 28 U.S.C. 1295) and includes appeals from the district courts in patent cases; appeals from the district courts in contract, and certain ot her civil actions in which the United States is a defendant; and appeals from final decisions of the U.S. Court of International Trade, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals. The jurisdiction of the court also includes t he review of administrative rulings by the Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. International Trade Commission, Secretary of Commerce, agency boards of contract appeals, and the Merit Systems Protection Board, as well as rulemaking of the Department of Veter ans Affairs; review of decisions of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics concerning discrimination claims of Senate employees; and review of a final order of an entity to be designated by the President concerning discrimination claims of Presidentia l appointees. The court consists of 12 circuit judges. It sits in panels of three or more on each case and may also hear or rehear a case en banc. The court sits principally in Washington, DC, and may hold court wherever any court of appeals sits (28 U.S.C. 4 8). ---------------------------(TABLE START)--------------------------- Judicial Circuits -- United States Courts of Appeals head level 1 :Circuit head level 1 :Judges head level 1 :Official Station ----------------------------------------------------------------- District of Columbia Circuit@rs (Clerk: Ron Garvin; ....... Circuit Justice Circuit Executive: Linda Finkelstein; ....... Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist Washington, DC) ....... Circuit Judges ....... Abner J. Mikva, Chief Judge ....... Washington, DC ....... Patricia M. Wald ....... Do. ....... Harry T. Edwards ....... Do. ....... Laurence H. Silberman ....... Do. ....... James L. Buckley ....... Do. ....... Stephen F. Williams ....... Do. ....... Douglas H. Ginsburg ....... Do. ....... David Bryan Sentelle ....... Do. ....... Karen LeCraft Henderson ....... Do. ....... A. Raymond Randolph ....... Do. ....... Judith W. Rogers ....... Do. ....... (Vacancy)@rs First Circuit@rs Districts of Maine, New ....... Circuit Justice Hampshire, Massachusetts, ....... Justice David H. Souter Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico (Clerk: Francis P. Scigliano; ....... Circuit Judges Circuit Executive: ....... Stephen G. Breyer, Chief Judge ....... Boston, MA Vincent F. Flanagan; ....... Juan R. Torruella ....... San Juan, PR Boston, MA) ....... Bruce M. Selya ....... Providence, RI ....... Conrad K. Cyr ....... Bangor, ME ....... Michael Boudin ....... Boston, MA ....... Norman H. Stahl ....... Concord, NH@rs Second Circuit@rs Districts of Vermont, ....... Circuit Justice Connecticut, northern New ....... Justice Clarence Thomas York, southern New York, eastern New York, and ....... Circuit Judges western New York ....... Jon O. Newman, Chief Judge ....... Hartford, CT (Clerk: George Lange III; Circuit ....... Amalya Lyle Kearse ....... New York, NY Executive: Steven Flanders; ....... Ralph K. Winter, Jr. ....... New Haven, CT New York, NY) ....... Roger J. Miner ....... Albany, NY ....... Frank X. Altimari ....... Uniondale, NY ....... J. Daniel Mahoney ....... Milford, CT ....... John M. Walker, Jr. ....... New York, NY ....... Joseph M. McLaughlin ....... Do. ....... Dennis G. Jacobs ....... Do. ....... Pierre N. Leval ....... Do. ....... (2 vacancies)@rs Third Circuit@rs Districts of New Jersey, ....... Circuit Justice eastern Pennsylvania, ....... Justice David H. Souter middle Pennsylvania, western Pennsylvania, ....... Circuit Judges Delaware, and the Virgin ....... Dolores Korman Sloviter, Chief Judge ....... Philadelphia, PA Islands ....... Edward R. Becker ....... Philadelphia, PA (Clerk: P. Douglas Sisk; ....... Walter K. Stapleton ....... Wilmington, DE Circuit Executive: ....... Carol Los Mansmann ....... Pittsburgh, PA Toby D. Slawsky; ....... Morton I. Greenberg ....... Trenton, NJ Philadelphia, PA) ....... Anthony J. Scirica ....... Philadelphia, PA ....... William D. Hutchinson ....... Pottsville, PA ....... Robert E. Cowen ....... Trenton, NJ ....... Richard Lowell Nygaard ....... Erie, PA ....... Samuel A. Alito, Jr. ....... Newark, NJ ....... Jane R. Roth ....... Wilmington, DE ....... Timothy K. Lewis ....... Pittsburgh, PA ....... (2 vacancies)@rs Fourth Circuit@rs Districts of Maryland, ....... Circuit Justice northern West Virginia, ....... Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist southern West Virginia, eastern Virginia, western ....... Circuit Judges Virginia, eastern North ....... Sam J. Ervin III, Chief Judge ....... Morganton, NC Carolina, middle North ....... Donald S. Russell ....... Spartanburg, SC Carolina, western North ....... H. Emory Widener, Jr. ....... Abingdon,VA Carolina, and South ....... Kenneth K. Hall ....... Charleston, WV Carolina ....... James Dickson Phillips, Jr. ....... Durham, NC (Clerk: Bert M. Montague; ....... Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr. ....... Baltimore, MD Circuit Executive: ....... James Harvie Wilkinson III ....... Charlottesville, VA Samuel W. Phillips; ....... William W. Wilkins, Jr. ....... Greenville, SC Richmond, VA) ....... Paul V. Niemeyer ....... Baltimore, MD ....... J. Michael Luttig ....... Alexandria, VA ....... Clyde H. Hamilton ....... Columbia, SC ....... Karen J. Williams ....... Orangeburg, SC ....... M. Blane Michael ....... Charleston, WV ....... (2 vacancies)@rs Fifth Circuit@rs Districts of northern ....... Circuit Justice Mississippi, southern Mississippi, ....... Justice Antonin Scalia eastern Louisiana, middle Louisiana, western Louisiana, ....... Circuit Judges northern Texas, southern ....... Henry A. Politz, Chief Judge ....... Shreveport, LA Texas, eastern Texas, and ....... Carolyn Dineen King ....... Houston, TX western Texas ....... William L. Garwood ....... Austin, TX (Clerk: Charles R. Fulbruge III; ....... E. Grady Jolly ....... Jackson, MS Circuit Executive: ....... Patrick E. Higginbotham ....... Dallas, TX Lydia Comberrel; ....... W. Eugene Davis ....... Lafayette, LA New Orleans, LA) ....... Edith H. Jones ....... Houston, TX ....... Jerry Edwin Smith ....... Houston, TX ....... John M. Duhe, Jr. ....... Lafayette, LA ....... Rhesa H. Barksdale ....... Jackson, MS ....... Jacques L. Wiener, Jr. ....... Shreveport, LA ....... Emilio M. Garza ....... San Antonio, TX ....... Harold R. Demoss, Jr. ....... Houston, TX ....... (4 vacancies)@rs Sixth Circuit@rs Districts of northern Ohio, ....... Circuit Justice southern Ohio, eastern ....... Justice John Paul Stevens Michigan, western Michigan, eastern Kentucky, ....... Circuit Judges western Kentucky, eastern ....... Gilbert S. Merritt, Chief Judge ....... Nashville, TN Tennessee, middle Tennessee, ....... Damon J. Keith ....... Detroit, MI and western Tennessee ....... Cornelia G. Kennedy ....... Detroit, MI (Clerk: Leonard Green; ....... Boyce F. Martin, Jr. ....... Louisville, KY Circuit Executive: ....... Nathaniel R. Jones ....... Cincinnati, OH James A. Higgins; ....... H. Ted Milburn ....... Chattanooga, TN Cincinnati, OH) ....... Ralph B. Guy, Jr. ....... Ann Arbor, MI ....... David A. Nelson ....... Cincinnati, OH ....... James L. Ryan ....... Detroit, MI ....... Danny J. Boggs ....... Louisville, KY ....... Alan E. Norris ....... Columbus, OH ....... Richard F. Suhrheinrich ....... Lansing, MI ....... Eugene E. Siler, Jr. ....... London, KY ....... Alice M. Batchelder ....... Medina, OH ....... Martha Craig Daughtrey ....... Nashville, TN ....... (Vacancy)@rs Seventh Circuit@rs Districts of northern Indiana, ....... Circuit Justice southern Indiana, northern ....... Justice John Paul Stevens Illinois, central Illinois, southern Illinois, eastern ....... Circuit Judges Wisconsin, and western ....... Richard A. Posner, Chief Judge ....... Chicago, IL Wisconsin ....... William J. Bauer ....... Do. (Clerk: Thomas F. Strubbe; ....... Walter J. Cummings ....... Do. Circuit Executive: ....... Richard D. Cudahy ....... Do. Collins T. Fitzpatrick; ....... John L. Coffey ....... Milwaukee, WI Chicago, IL) ....... Joel M. Flaum ....... Chicago, IL ....... Frank H. Easterbrook ....... Chicago, IL ....... Kenneth F. Ripple ....... South Bend, IN ....... Daniel A. Manion ....... South Bend, IN ....... Michael S. Kanne ....... Lafayette, IN ....... Ilana Diamond Rovner ....... Chicago, IL@rs Eighth Circuit@rs Districts of Minnesota, ....... Circuit Justice northern Iowa, southern ....... Justice Harry A. Blackmun Iowa, eastern Missouri, western Missouri, eastern ....... Circuit Judges Arkansas, western Arkansas, ....... Richard S. Arnold, Chief Judge ....... Little Rock, AR Nebraska, North Dakota, ....... Theodore McMillian ....... St. Louis, MO and South Dakota ....... George G. Fagg ....... Des Moines, IA (Clerk: Michael Ellis Gans; ....... Pasco M. Bowman II ....... Kansas City, MO Circuit Executive: ....... Roger L. Wollman ....... Sioux Falls, SD June L. Boadwine; ....... Frank J. Magill ....... Fargo, ND St. Louis, MO, and ....... Clarence Arlen Beam ....... Lincoln, NE St. Paul, MN) ....... James B. Loken ....... St. Paul, MN ....... David R. Hansen ....... Cedar Rapids, IA ....... Morris S. Arnold ....... Little Rock, AR ....... (Vacancy)@rs Ninth Circuit@rs Districts of northern ....... Circuit Justice California, eastern ....... Justice Sandra Day O'Connor California, central California, southern California, Oregon, ....... Circuit Judges Nevada, Montana, eastern ....... J. Clifford Wallace, Chief Judge ....... San Diego, CA Washington, western ....... James R. Browning ....... San Francisco, CA Washington, Idaho, Arizona, ....... Proctor Hug, Jr. ....... Reno, NV Alaska, Hawaii, Territory ....... Mary M. Schroeder ....... Phoenix, AZ of Guam, and District ....... Betty B. Fletcher ....... Seattle, WA Court for the Northern ....... Jerome Farris ....... Seattle, WA Mariana Islands ....... Harry Pregerson ....... Woodland Hills, CA (Clerk: Cathy Catterson; ....... Cecil F. Poole ....... San Francisco, CA Circuit Executive: ....... Dorothy W. Nelson ....... Pasadena, CA Gregory B. Walters; ....... William C. Canby, Jr. ....... Phoenix, AZ San Francisco, CA) ....... William A. Norris ....... Los Angeles, CA ....... Stephen Reinhardt ....... Los Angeles, CA ....... Robert R. Beezer ....... Seattle, WA ....... Cynthia Holcomb Hall ....... Pasadena, CA ....... Charles E. Wiggins ....... Reno, NV ....... Melvin Brunetti ....... Reno, NV ....... Alex Kozinski ....... Pasadena, CA ....... John T. Noonan, Jr. ....... San Francisco, CA ....... David R. Thompson ....... San Diego, CA ....... Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain ....... Portland, OR ....... Edward Leavy ....... Portland, OR ....... Stephen S. Trott ....... Boise, ID ....... Ferdinand F. Fernandez ....... Pasadena, CA ....... Pamela A. Rymer ....... Pasadena, CA ....... Thomas G. Nelson ....... Boise, ID ....... Andrew J. Kleinfeld ....... Fairbanks, AK ....... (2 vacancies)@rs Tenth Circuit@rs Districts of Colorado, ....... Circuit Justice Wyoming, Utah, Kansas, ....... Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg eastern Oklahoma, western Oklahoma, northern ....... Circuit Judges Oklahoma, and New ....... Stephanie K. Seymour, Chief Judge ....... Tulsa, OK Mexico ....... James K. Logan ....... Olathe, KS (Clerk: Robert L. Hoecker; ....... John P. Moore ....... Denver, CO Circuit Executive: ....... Stephen H. Anderson ....... Salt Lake City, UT Eugene J. Murret; ....... Deanell Reece Tacha ....... Lawrence, KS Denver, CO) ....... Bobby R. Baldock ....... Roswell, NM ....... Wade Brorby ....... Cheyenne, WY ....... David M. Ebel ....... Denver, CO ....... Paul J. Kelly, Jr. ....... Santa Fe, NM ....... (3 vacancies)@rs Eleventh Circuit@rs Districts of northern ....... Circuit Justice Georgia, middle Georgia, ....... Justice Anthony M. Kennedy southern Georgia, northern Florida, middle Florida, ....... Circuit Judges southern Florida, northern ....... Gerald B. Tjoflat, Chief Judge ....... Jacksonville, FL Alabama, middle Alabama, ....... Phyllis A. Kravitch ....... Atlanta, GA southern Alabama ....... Joseph Woodrow Hatchett ....... Tallahassee, FL (Clerk: Miguel J. Cortez, Jr.; ....... R. Lanier Anderson III ....... Macon, GA Circuit Executive: ....... J.L. Edmondson ....... Atlanta, GA Norman E. Zoller; ....... Emmett Ripley Cox ....... Mobile, AL Atlanta, GA) ....... Stanley F. Birch, Jr. ....... Atlanta, GA ....... Joel F. Dubina ....... Montgomery, AL ....... Susan H. Black ....... Jacksonville, FL ....... Edward E. Carnes ....... Montgomery, AL ....... (2 vacancies) ----------------------------(TABLE END)-------------------------- ---------------------------(TABLE START)--------------------------- Federal Circuit -- Washington, DC head level 1 : head level 1 : ----------------------------------------------------------------- Circuit Justice ........Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist Chief Judge ........Glenn L. Archer, Jr. Judges ........Helen Wilson Nies ........Giles S. Rich ........Pauline Newman ........Haldane Robert Mayer ........Paul R. Michel ........S. Jay Plager ........Alan D. Lourie ........Raymond C. Clevenger III ........Randall R. Rader ........Alvi n A. Schall ........(Vacancy) Clerk: Francis X. Gindhart Administrative Services Officer: Ruth A. Butler ----------------------------(TABLE END)-------------------------- United States District Courts The district courts are the trial courts of general Federal jurisdiction. Each State has at least one district court, while the larger States have as many as four. Altogether there are 89 district courts in the 50 States, plu s the one in the District of Columbia. In addition, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has a district court with jurisdiction corresponding to that of district courts in the various States. At present, each district court has from 2 to 28 Federal district judgeships, depending upon the amount of judicial work within its territory. Only one judge is usually required to hear and decide a case in a district court, but in some limited cases it is required that three judges be called together to comprise the court (28 U.S.C. 2284). The judge senior in commission who is under 70 years of age (65 at inception of term), has been in office for at least 1 year, and has not previously been ch ief judge, serves as chief judge for a 7-year term. There are altogether 610 permanent district judgeships in the 50 States and 15 in the District of Columbia. There are 7 district judgeships in Puerto Rico. District judges hold their offices during good behavior as provided by Article III, section 1, of the Constitution. However, Congress may create temporary judgeships for a court with the provision that when a vacancy occurs in that district, such vacancy shall not be filled. Each district court has on e or more United States magistrate judges and bankruptcy judges, a clerk, a United States attorney, a United States marshal, probation officers, court reporters, and their staffs. The jurisdiction of the district courts is set forth in title 28, chapter 85, of the United States Code and at 18 U.S.C. 3231. Cases from the district courts are reviewable on appeal by the applicable court of appeals. Territorial Courts Pursuant to its authority to govern the Territories (art. IV, sec. 3, clause 2, of the Constitution), Congress has established district courts in the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands. The District Court of the Canal Zone was a bolished on April 1, 1982, pursuant to the Panama Canal Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3601 note). Congress has also established a district court in the Northern Mariana Islands, which presently is administered by the United States under a trusteeship agreement w ith the United Nations. These Territorial courts have jurisdiction not only over the subjects described in the judicial article of the Constitution but also over many local matters that, within the States, are decided in State courts. The district court o f Puerto Rico, by contrast, is established under Article III, is classified like other ``district courts,'' and is called a ``court of the United States'' (28 U.S.C. 451). There is one judge each in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and two in the Vi rgin Islands. The judges in these courts are appointed for terms of 10 years. For further information concerning the lower courts, contact the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, One Columbus Circle NE., Washington, DC 20544. United States Court of International Trade This court was originally established as the Board of United States General Appraisers by act of June 10, 1890, which conferred upon it jurisdiction theretofore held by the district and circuit courts in actions arising under the tariff acts (19 U.S.C. ch. 4). The act of May 28, 1926 (19 U.S.C. 405a), created the United States Customs Court to supersede the Board; by acts of August 7, 1939, and June 25, 1948 (28 U.S.C. 1582, 1583), the court was integrated into t he United States court structure, organization, and procedure. The act of July 14, 1956 (28 U.S.C. 251), established the court as a court of record of the United States under Article III of the Constitution. The Customs Courts Act of 1980 (28 U.S.C. 251) constituted the court as the United States Court of International Trade and revised provisions relating to its jurisdiction. The Court of International Trade has all the powers in law and equity of a district court. The Court of International Trade has jurisdiction over any civil action against the United States arising from Federal laws governing import transactions. This includes classification and valuation cases, as well as authority to review certain a gency determinations under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2501) involving antidumping and countervailing duty matters. In addition, it has exclusive jurisdiction of civil actions to review determinations as to the eligibility of workers, firm s, and communities for adjustment assistance under the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2101). Civil actions commenced by the United States to recover customs duties, to recover on a customs bond, or for certain civil penalties alleging fraud or negligence ar e also within the exclusive jurisdiction of the court. The court is composed of a chief judge and eight judges, not more than five of whom may belong to any one political party. Any of its judges may be temporarily designated and assigned by the Chief Justice of the United States to sit as a court o f appeals or district court judge in any circuit or district. The court has a clerk and deputy clerks, a librarian, court reporters, and other supporting personnel. Cases before the court may be tried before a jury. Under the Federal Courts Improvement Ac t of 1982 (28 U.S.C. 1295), appeals are taken to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and ultimately review may be sought in appropriate cases in the Supreme Court of the United States. The principal offices are located in New York, NY, but the court is empowered to hear and determine cases arising at any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States. For further information, contact the Clerk, United States Court of International Trade, One Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10007. Phone, 212-264-2814. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation The Panel, created by act of April 29, 1968 (28 U.S.C. 1407), and consisting of seven Federal judges designated by the Chief Justice from the courts of appeals and district courts, is authorized to temporarily tr ansfer to a single district, for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings, civil actions pending in different districts that involve one or more common questions of fact. For further information, contact the Clerk, Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, Room G-255, Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, One Columbus Circle NE., Washington, DC 20002. Phone, 202-273-2800. Special Courts The Supreme Court has held that ``. . . Article III [of the Constitution] does not express the full authority of Congress to create courts, and that other Articles invest Congress with powers in the exertion of which it may create inferior court s and clothe them with functions deemed essential or helpful in carrying those powers into execution.'' Such courts, known as legislative courts, have functions which ``. . . are directed to the execution of one or more of such powers and are prescribed b y Congress independently of section 2 of Article III; and their judges hold office for such term as Congress prescribes, whether it be a fixed period of years or during good behavior.'' Appeals from the decisions of these courts, with the exception of the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Court of Military Appeals, may be taken to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Appeals from the decisions of the Tax Court may be taken to the court of appeals in which judicial circuit the case was initially he ard. Certain decisions of the U.S. Court of Military Appeals are reviewable by writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court. United States Court of Federal Claims The Claims Court was established on October 1, 1982, as an Article I court (28 U.S.C. 171, Article I, U.S. Constitution). The Claims Court succeeds to the original jurisdiction of the former Court of Claims, as provid ed for in 28 U.S.C. 1491 et seq. Its name was changed to the United States Court of Federal Claims by the Federal Courts Administration Act of 1992 (28 U.S.C. 1 note, 106 Stat. 4516). The Court is composed of a chief judge, designated by the President, an d 15 associate judges. All judges are appointed for 15-year terms by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The court has jurisdiction over claims seeking money judgments against the United States. A claim must be founded upon either: the United States Constitution; an act of Congress; the regulation of an executive department; an express or implied-i n-fact contract with the United States; or damages, liquidated or unliquidated, in cases not sounding in tort. If a bidder files a claim with the Court before the award of a Government contract, it has jurisdiction to grant declaratory judgments and equitable relief. Under the Contract Disputes Act (41 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Court may render judgments upon a claim by or against a contractor, or any dispute between a contractor and the United States Government arising under the act. The Congress, from time to time, also grants the Court jurisdiction over specific types of claims against the United States. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, established by 42 U.S.C. 300aa-10 (the Vaccine Act), is an example of such special jurisdiction. The Court also reports to Congress on bills referred by either the House of Representatives or the Senate. Judgments of the Court are final and conclusive on both the claimant and the United States. All judgments are subject to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Collateral to any judgment, the Court may issue orders directing the restoration to office or status of any claimant or the correction of applicable records. The Court's jurisdiction is nationwide. Trials are conducted before individual judges at locations most convenient and least expensive to citizens. For further information, contact the Clerk of Court, United States Court of Federal Claims, 717 Madison Place NW., Washington, DC 20005. Phone, 202-219-9657. United States Court of Military Appeals This court was established under Article I of the Constitution of the United States pursuant to act of May 5, 1950, as amended (10 U.S.C. 867). Subject only to certiorari review by the Supreme Court of the United St ates in a limited number of cases, the court serves as the final appellate tribunal to review court-martial convictions of all the armed services. It is exclusively an appellate criminal court, consisting of five civilian judges who are appointed for 15-y ear terms by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The court is called upon to exercise jurisdiction to review the record in all cases: -- extending to death; -- certified to the court by a Judge Advocate General of an armed service or by the General Counsel of the Department of Transportation, acting for the Coast Guard; or -- petitioned by accused who have received a sentence of confinement for 1 year or more, and/or a punitive discharge. The court also exercises authority under the All Writs Act (28 U.S.C. 1651 (a)). In addition, the judges of the court are required by law to work jointly with the senior uniformed lawyer from each Armed Force, the Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard, and two members of the public appointed by the Secretary of Defense, to make a n annual comprehensive survey and to report annually to the Congress on the operation and progress of the military justice system under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and to recommend improvements wherever necessary. For further information, contact the Clerk, United States Court of Military Appeals, 450 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20442-0001. Phone, 202-272-1448. United States Tax Court This is a court of record under Article I of the Constitution of the United States (26 U.S.C. 7441). Currently an independent judicial body in the legislative branch, the court was originally created as the United States Board of T ax Appeals, an independent agency in the executive branch, by the Revenue Act of 1924 (43 Stat. 336) and continued by the Revenue Act of 1926 (44 Stat. 105), the Internal Revenue Codes of 1939, 1954, and 1986. The name was changed to the Tax Court of the United States by the Revenue Act of 1942 (56 Stat. 957), and the Article I status and change in name to United States Tax Court were effected by the Tax Reform Act of 1969 (83 Stat. 730). The court is composed of 19 judges. Its strength is augmented by senior judges who may be recalled by the chief judge to perform further judicial duties and by 14 special trial judges who are appointed by the chief judge and serve at the pleasur e of the court. The chief judge is elected biennially from among the 19 judges of the court. The Tax Court tries and adjudicates controversies involving the existence of deficiencies or overpayments in income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes in cases where deficiencies have been determined by the Commissioner of Int ernal Revenue. It also hears cases commenced by transferees and fiduciaries who have been issued notices of liability by the Commissioner. The Tax Court has jurisdiction to redetermine excise taxes and penalties imposed on private foundations. Similar jurisdiction over excise taxes has been conferred with regard to public charities, qualified pension plans, and real estate investme nt trusts. At the option of the individual taxpayer, simplified procedures may be utilized for the trials of small tax cases, provided that in a case conducted under these procedures the decision of the court would be final and not subject to review by any court. The jurisdictional maximum for such cases is $10,000 for any disputed year. In disputes relating to public inspection of written determinations by the Internal Revenue Service, the Tax Court has jurisdiction to restrain disclosure or to obtain additional disclosure of written determinations or background file documents and, at the request of any person, to order disclosure of the identity of any person to whom the written determination pertains, if there has been a third party contact noted on the determination made public. The Tax Court has jurisdiction to render declaratory judgments relating to the qualification of retirement plans, including pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus, annuity, and bond purchase plans; the tax-exempt status of a charitable organizatio n, qualified charitable donee, private foundation, or private operating foundation; and the status of interest on certain governmental obligations. Additional jurisdiction was conferred on the Tax Court by the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 19 88 (102 Stat. 3342). Such jurisdiction includes injunctive authority over certain procedure assessments, authority to review certain jeopardy assessments and jeopardy levies, and authority to hear and decide appeals by taxpayers from the denial of adminis trative costs by the Internal Revenue Service. All decisions, other than small tax case decisions, are subject to review by the courts of appeals and thereafter by the Supreme Court of the United States upon the granting of a writ of certiorari. The office of the court and all of its judges are located in Washington, DC, with the exception of a field office located in Los Angeles, CA. The court conducts trial sessions at various locations within the United States as reasonably convenien t to taxpayers as practicable. Each trial session is conducted by a single judge or a special trial judge. All proceedings are public and are conducted judicially in accordance with the court's Rules of Practice and the rules of evidence applicable in tri als without a jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. A fee of $60 is prescribed for the filing of a petition. Practice before the court is limited to practitioners admitted under the court's Rules. For further information, contact the Administrative Office, United States Tax Court, 400 Second Street NW., Washington, DC 20217. Phone, 202-606-8751. United States Court of Veterans Appeals The United States Court of Veterans Appeals was established on November 18, 1988 (102 Stat. 4105, 38 U.S.C. 4051) pursuant to Article I of the Constitution, and given exclusive jurisdiction to review decisions of th e Board of Veterans Appeals. However, the Court may not review the schedule of ratings for disabilities or actions of the Secretary in adopting or revising that schedule. Decisions of the Court of Veterans Appeals may be appealed to the United States Cour t of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Court consists of a chief judge and at least two, but not more than six, associate judges. All judges are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate for terms of 15 years. The court's principal office is in the District of Columbia, but the Court can also act at any place within the United States. For further information, contact the Clerk, United States Court of Veterans Appeals, Suite 900, 625 Indiana Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004-2950. Phone, 202-501-5970. Other Courts There have also been created two courts of local jurisdiction for the District of Columbia: the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court. Business of the Federal Courts The business of all the Federal courts described here, except the Court of Military Appeals, the Tax Court, the Court of Veterans Appeals, and the District of Columbia courts, is discussed in detail in the text and tables of the Annual Report of the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (1940-92). ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS Washington, DC 20544 Phone: See ``Sources of Information'' section at end of statement Director ........L. Ralph Mecham Deputy Director ........(vacancy) Associate Director for Management and Operations ........Clarence A. Lee, Jr. Chief, Office of Audit ........David L. Gellman Chief, Office of Management Coordination ........Cathy A. McCarthy Chief, Office of Program Assessment ........Duane R. Lee General Counsel ........William R. Burchill, Jr. Legislative and Public Affairs Officer ........(vacancy) Chief, Judicial Conference and Management Coordination ........Karen K. Siegel Chief, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs ........Robert E. Feidler Assistant Director for Automation and Technology ........Roy L. Carter Deputy Assistant Director ........James S. Lamb Chief, Automation Planning and Policy Formulation Office ........Kathryn C. Hogan Chief, Technology Enhancement Office ........Richard D. Fennell Assistant Director for Court Programs ........Noel J. Augustyn Chief, Court Administration Policy Staff ........Abel J. Mattos Assistant Director for Facilities, Security and Administrative Services ........P. Gerald Thacker Deputy Assistant Director ........William J. Lehman Court Security Officer ........(vacancy) Chief, Relocation and Travel Management Office ........Robert E. Moreland Assistant Director for Finance and Budget ........Richard A. Ames Deputy Assistant Director ........Nancy A. Potok Chief, Financial Analysis Office ........Penny G. Jacobs Chief, Judicial Impact Office ........Nancy A. Potok Assistant Director for Human Resources and Statistics ........Myra Howze Shiplett Deputy Assistant Director ........R. Townsend Robinson Chief, Analytical Services Office ........David L. Cook Chief, Equal Employment Opportunity and Special Projects Office ........Maurice E. White Assistant Director for Judges Programs ........Peter G. McCabe Chief, Long Range Planning Office ........Charles W. Nihan Chief, Rules Committee Support Office ........John K. Rabiej Chief, Accounting and Financial Systems Division ........Nancy C. Fleetwood Chief, Internal Services Division ........Charles F. McBride Chief, Appellate and Circuit Court Administration Division ........John P. Hehman Chief, Article III Judges Division ........John E. Howell Chief, Automation Resources Division ........Dennis E. Morey Chief, Bankruptcy Court Administration Division ........Glen K. Palman Chief, Bankruptcy Judges Division ........Francis F. Szczebak Chief, Budget Division ........Joseph J. Bobek Chief, Court Systems Division ........Stephen M. Beckman Chief, Contracts and Services Division ........Ralph J. Simmons Chief, Defender Services Division ........Theodore J. Lidz Chief, District Court Administration Division ........Lydia Pelegrin Chief, Human Resources Division ........Charlotte G. Peddicord Chief, Integrated Technology Division ........Pamela B. White Chief, Magistrate Judges Division ........Thomas C. Hnatowski Chief, Probation and Pretrial Services Division ........Eunice Holt Jones Chief, Space and Facilities Division ........William J. Lehman Chief, Statistics Division ........Steven R. Schlesinger Chief, Systems Technology Division ........Frank S. Dozier @U1 [Insert Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts chart]@U0 The Administrative Office of the United States Courts is charged with the nonjudicial, administrative business of the United States Courts, including the maintenance of workload statistics and the disbursement of funds appropriated for the maintenance of the U.S. judicial system. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts was created by act of August 7, 1939 (28 U.S.C. 601). The Office was established November 6, 1939. Its Director and Deputy Director are appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States aft er consultation with the Judicial Conference. Administering the Courts The Director is the administrative officer of the courts of the United States (except the Supreme Court). Under the guidance of the Judicial Conference of the United States the Director is required, among other things, to: -- supervise all administrative matters relating to the offices of clerks and other clerical and administrative personnel of the courts; -- examine the state of the dockets of the courts, secure information as to the courts' need of assistance, and prepare and transmit quarterly to the chief judges of the circuits statistical data and reports as to the business of the courts; -- submit to the annual meeting of the Judicial Conference of the United States, at least 2 weeks prior thereto, a report of the activities of the Administrative Office and the state of the business of the courts; -- fix the compensation of employees of the courts whose compensation is not otherwise fixed by law; -- regulate and pay annuities to widows and surviving dependent children of judges; -- disburse moneys appropriated for the maintenance and operation of the courts; -- examine accounts of court officers; -- regulate travel of judicial personnel; -- provide accommodations and supplies for the courts and their clerical and administrative personnel; -- establish and maintain programs for the certification and utilization of court interpreters and the provision of special interpretation services in the courts; and -- perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Supreme Court or the Judicial Conference of the United States. The Director is also responsible for the preparation and submission of the budget of the courts, except the budget of the Supreme Court. Probation Officers The Administrative Office exercises general supervision of the accounts and practices of the Federal probation offices, subject to primary control by the respective district courts that they serve. The Office publishes quarterly, in coo peration with the Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice, a magazine entitled Federal Probation, which is a journal ``of correctional philosophy and practice.'' The Director also has responsibility with respect to the establishment of pretrial services in the district courts under the Pretrial Services Act of 1982 (18 U.S.C. 3152). These offices report to their respective courts information concerning p retrial release of persons charged with Federal offenses and supervise such persons who are released to their custody. Bankruptcy The Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984 (28 U.S.C. 151) provided that the bankruptcy judges for each judicial district shall constitute a unit of the district court to be known as the bankruptcy court. Bankruptcy judges are appointed by the courts of appeals in such numbers as authorized by Congress and serve for a term of 14 years as judicial officers of the district courts. This act placed jurisdiction in the district courts over all cases under title 11, United States Code, and all proceedings arising in or related to cases under that title (28 U.S.C. 1334). The district court may provide for such cases and procee dings to be referred to its bankruptcy judges (as authorized by 28 U.S.C. 157). The Director of the Administrative Office recommends to the Judicial Conference the official duty stations and places of holding court of bankruptcy judges, surveys the need for additional bankruptcy judgeships to be recommended to Congress, and determines the staff needs of bankruptcy judges and the clerks of the bankruptcy courts. Federal Magistrate Judges Under the Federal Magistrates Act, as amended (28 U.S.C. 631), the Director of the Administrative Office, under the supervision and direction of the Judicial Conference, exercises general supervision over administrative matters i n offices of United States magistrate judges, compiles and evaluates statistical data relating to such offices, and submits reports thereon to the Conference. The Director reports annually to Congress on the business that has come before United States mag istrate judges and also prepares legal and administrative manuals for the use of the magistrate judges. The act provides for surveys to be conducted by the Administrative Office of the conditions in the judicial districts in order to make recommendations as to the number, location, and salaries of magistrate judges, which are determined by the Conference subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Federal Defenders The Criminal Justice Act (18 U.S.C. 3006A) establishes the procedure for the appointment of counsel in Federal criminal cases for individuals who are unable to afford adequate representation under plans adopted by each district court. Th e act also permits the establishment of Federal public defender or Federal community defender organizations by the district courts in districts where at least 200 persons annually require the appointment of counsel. Two adjacent districts may be combined to reach this total. Each defender organization submits to the Director of the Administrative Office an annual report of its activities along with a proposed budget or, in the case of community defender organizations, a proposed grant for the coming year. The Direct or is responsible for the submission of the proposed budgets and grants to the Judicial Conference for approval. The Director also makes payments to the defender organizations out of appropriations in accordance with the approved budgets and grants, as we ll as compensating private counsel appointed to defend criminal cases in the United States courts. Sources of Information Information may be obtained from the following offices: Bankruptcy Division. Phone, 202-273-1900. Budget Division. Phone, 202-273-2100. Court Administration Division. Phone, 202-273-1530. Defender Services Division. Phone, 202-273-1670. General Counsel. Phone, 202-273-1100. Human Resources Division. Phone, 202-273-1270. Judicial Conference Secretariat. Phone, 202-273-1140. Legislative and Public Affairs Office. Phone, 202-273-1120. Magistrate Judges Division. Phone, 202-273-1830. Probation and Pretrial Services Division. Phone, 202-273-1600. Statistics Division. Phone, 202-273-2240. For further information, contact one of the offices listed above, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, One Columbus Circle NE., Washington, DC 20544. FEDERAL JUDICIAL CENTER Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, One Columbus Circle NE., Washington, DC 20002 Phone: See ``Sources of Information'' section at end of statement Director ........William W. Schwarzer Deputy Director ........Russell R. Wheeler Director of Research ........William B. Eldridge Director of Planning and Technology ........Gordon Bermant Director of Judicial Education ........Denis J. Hauptly Director of Court Education ........Steven A. Wolvek Director of Publications and Media ........Sylvan A. Sobel The Federal Judicial Center is the judicial branch's agency for planning and policy research, systems development, and continuing education. The Federal Judicial Center was created by act of December 20, 1967 (28 U.S.C. 620), to further the development and adoption of improved judicial administration in the courts of the United States. The Center's basic policies and activities are determined by its Board, which is composed of the Chief Justice of the United States, who is, by statute, permanent Chairman of the Board, and two judges of the United States courts of appeals, thre e judges of the United States district courts, and one bankruptcy judge, all of whom are elected for 4-year terms by the Judicial Conference of the United States. The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts is also a permanent me mber of the Board. Congress assigned the Center the following basic functions: -- to conduct research on the operation of the United States courts and to stimulate and coordinate such research on the part of other public and private persons and agencies; -- to stimulate, create, develop, and conduct programs of continuing education and training for judges and support personnel of the judicial branch; -- to study and determine ways in which automatic data processing and systems procedures may be applied to the administration of the courts; -- to provide staff, research, and planning assistance to the Judicial Conference and its committees, consistent with the performance of the other functions set forth above; -- to develop recommendations for improvement in the administration and management of the courts and to submit recommendations to the Judicial Conference of the United States; -- to submit to government agencies recommendations for improvement of their programs or activities that relate to the administration of justice; -- to conduct, coordinate, and encourage programs relating to the history of the judicial branch; and -- to cooperate with and assist other agencies and organizations in providing advice to further improvement in the administration of justice in the courts of foreign countries. Sources of Information Employment Employment inquiries and applications may be directed to the Office of Personnel. Phone, 202-273-4165. Publications Single copies of most Federal Judicial Center publications are available free of charge. Phone, 202-273-4153. For further information, contact the Federal Judicial Center, Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, One Columbus Circle NE., Washington, DC 20002. For a recorded message and office directory, dial 202-273-4004 on a touch-tone phone. UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION Suite 2-500, South Lobby, One Columbus Circle NE., Washington, DC 20002-8002 Phone, 202-273-4500 Chairman ........William W. Wilkins, Jr. Commissioners ........Julie E. Carnes, Michael S. Gelacak, A. David Mazzone, Ilene H. Nagel, (2 vacancies) Commissioners (ex officio) ........Janet Reno ........Edward F. Reilly, Jr. Staff Director ........Phyllis J. Newton Deputy Staff Director ........Paul K. Martin General Counsel ........John R. Steer Director of Communications ........Kent S. Larsen Director of Policy Analysis ........Susan Katzenelson Director of Training and Technical Assistance ........Sharon O. Henegan Director of Administration ........Mary G. Hogya Director of Monitoring ........Alf A. Olson @U1 [Insert United States Sentencing Commission chart]@U0 The United States Sentencing Commission develops sentencing policies and practices for the Federal criminal justice system. The United States Sentencing Commission was established as an independent commission in the judicial branch of the Federal Government by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (28 U.S.C. 991 et seq. and 18 U.S.C. 3551 et seq.). The Commission establi shes sentencing policies and practices for the Federal courts, including guidelines prescribing the appropriate form and severity of punishment for offenders convicted of Federal crimes. The Commission is composed of seven voting members appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate for 6-year terms, and two nonvoting members. One of the voting members is appointed Chairman. The Commission evaluates the effects of the sentencing guidelines on the criminal justice system, advises Congress regarding the modification or enactment of statutes relating to criminal law and sentencing matters, establishes a research and de velopment program on sentencing issues, and performs other related duties. In executing its duties, the Commission promulgates and distributes to Federal courts and to the U.S. Probation System guidelines to be used in determining sentences to be imposed in criminal cases, general policy statements regarding the applic ation of guidelines, and policy statements on the appropriate use of probation and supervised release revocation provisions. These sentencing guidelines and policy statements are designed to further the purposes of just punishment, deterrence, incapacitat ion, and rehabilitation; provide fairness in meeting the purposes of sentencing; avoid unwarranted disparity; and reflect advancement in the knowledge of human behavior as it relates to the criminal justice process. In addition, the Commission provides training, conducts research on sentencing-related issues, and serves as an information resource for Congress, criminal justice practitioners, and the public. Sources of Information Public Information Information concerning the Commission's activities is available from the Office of Communications. Phone, 202-273-4590. Judges and Probation Officers Technical Assistance Service Phone, 202-273-4545 (hotline). Prosecuting and Defense Attorneys Phone, 202-273-4527 (hotline).