Federal Judicial Center

Federal Judicial Center
Basic facts
Location:	Washington, D.C.
Type:	Federal government agency
Top official:	John Cooke, Director
Year founded:	1967
Website:	Official website

The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) is the research and education agency of the federal judicial system. The agency "has no policy-making or enforcement authority; its role is to provide accurate, objective information and education and to encourage thorough and candid analysis of policies, practices, and procedures."

Background

The U.S. Congress established the Federal Judicial Center in 1967. The Center receives annual funding from Congress and also accepts private donations via the Federal Judicial Center Foundation.

As of September 2025, the agency said its mission was to "[provide] education and training for judges and employees of the federal courts. It also coordinates educational programs for federal public defenders, who represent indigent criminal defendants in federal court."

Leadership

As of September 2025, the following individuals held positions of leadership at the Federal Judicial Center:

• John S. Cooke, director
• Clara J. Altman, deputy director
• Esther DeVries, information technology office director
• Mira Gur-Arie, international office director
• José Idler, editorial and information services office director
• Christine Lamberson, federal judicial history office director
• Julie R. Linkins, education division director
• Nancy Payne, office of administration director
• Elizabeth C. Wiggins, research division director

As of September 2025, the following individuals sat on the Federal Judicial Center's board of directors:

• John Roberts, Supreme Court of the United States
• Kathleen Cardone, United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
• R. Guy Cole, United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
• Sara Lee Ellis, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• Ralph Erickson, United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
• Michelle M. Harner, United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
• Suzanne Mitchell, United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
• Lynn Winmill, United States District Court for the District of Idaho
• Robert Conrad, Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Work and activities

Policy work

The FJC has five divisions each responsible for a different portion of the organization's mission:

• Director's Office: Responsible for overall management of the agency and its relationships with other parts of the federal government. The office oversees the Information Technology Office and Editorial & Information Services Office, both of which offer support to the agency's other divisions.
• Research Division: Responsible for evaluating current federal court policies and considering whether to recommend changes to court policy.
• Education Division: Responsible for preparing and conducting trainings for new federal judges and court staff, including webinar, recorded video, and in-person sessions.
• Federal Judicial History Office: Responsible for organizing and preserving the history of the federal judicial system and assisting researchers.
• International Office: Provides support and advice to members of other countries' judicial systems and monitors developments in other country's judicial systems that are relevant to the U.S. judicial system.

Finances

The Federal Judicial Center receives annual funding from Congress and also accepts private donations through the Federal Judicial Center Foundation. In FY 2025, the agency received $34,261,000 in Congressional funding. It requested $34,928,654 for FY 2026.

See also

• What is an influencer?
• Federal Judicial Center Act of 1967

External links

• Federal Judicial Center website