Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Conference of Senior Circuit Judges Act of 1922
The Conference of Senior Circuit Judges Act of 1922 is legislation that created a new level of court administration. This group later became the Judicial Conference of the United States.[1]
Purpose
During the beginning of the 20th century, there was a need for a separate administrative body in the federal judiciary to evaluate caseloads, propose legislation, and provide new temporary judges where needed. A backlog in cases at all levels of the judiciary created demand for the courts to be more efficient and responsive to the public.
During his term as President, William Taft identified the need for a judicial administrative body. Once he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, he presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee the need for the Conference of Senior Circuit Judges Act. It is recognized that Taft's efforts for reform were critical in his nomination to the Supreme Court in 1922.[1]
What the Act did
- Established an annual conference between the Chief Justice and Senior Circuit Judges (Chief Judges)
- Mandated that Senior Circuit Judges submit annual reports on their district
- Reports were used to allocate the positioning of temporary judges
- Established 24 temporary judgeships
- In general, gave the judicial branch a way to communicate with the other branches of government.[1]
See also
External links
- Landmark Judicial Legislation, Establishment of the Conference of Senior Circuit Judges from the Federal Judicial Center
- Text of the Conference of Senior Circuit Judge Act of 1922 from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
