Notable federal judicial legislation
Since the creation of the federal judiciary, the United States Congress has enacted legislation to reform the third branch in order to improve the administration of justice.[1]
Framework for the judiciary
Article III of the United States Constitution
- The original framework for the federal judiciary when the Constitution of the United States was ratified in 1787.
- This Act sets up the charter and operating procedures for the federal judiciary.
- This Act created the first circuit system for the federal judiciary, setting up the original six circuit system.
Federal judiciary expansions
- This Act established the United States court of appeals and the position of federal appeals judge.
- This finished the work of the Evarts Act; abolishing the previous circuit courts and creating the system of district courts.
Federal Magistrates Act of 1968
- This Act established the position of Federal magistrate judge.
- The Bankruptcy Reform Act established the new position of Federal bankruptcy judge and determined the procedure for selecting those judges.
Federal court reorganizations
The page United States court reorganization legislation discusses the reorganization of the federal judiciary, including:
- Judiciary Act of 1789
- Judiciary Act of 1801
- Judiciary Act of 1802
- Seventh Circuit Act of 1807
- Eighth and Ninth Circuits Act of 1837
- California Circuit Act of 1855
- Tenth Circuit Act of 1863
- Judicial Circuits Act of 1866
- Judiciary Act of 1869
- Evarts Act of 1891
- Tenth Circuit Reorganization Act of 1929
- Eleventh Circuit Act of 1980
- Federal Circuit Act of 1982
Federal judicial administration
Conference of Senior Circuit Judges Act of 1922
- This established what is called today the Judicial Conference of the United States.
- The Judges Act changed what cases could be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States in order to improve the efficiency of the nation's highest court.
Administrative Office Act of 1939
- This act created a separate Administrative Office of the United States Courts in which allowed for more efficient operations of the federal judiciary.
Federal Judicial Center Act of 1967
- This Act created the Federal Judicial Center to conduct research and educate the public on the judicial system.
Federal Magistrates Act of 1979
- This Act gave greater, defined authority to federal magistrate judges, including involvement in civil cases.
Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980
- This Act sets up a formal procedure for filing complaints against judges for misconduct and allows for the creation of circuit level judicial councils to investigate complaints.
The Court Security Improvement Act of 2007
- This Act created a new set of penalties for individuals found guilty of threatening judges and their families, in addition to providing more resources for the protection of federal judges.
Bankruptcy legislation
The page United States Bankruptcy Courts legislation discusses establishment of these courts, in addition to:
- The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978
- The Bankruptcy Amendment Act of 1984
- The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994
- The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005
Proposed legislation
Inspector General of the Federal Courts
- This would establish the position of Inspector General to investigate allegations of misconduct and waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct of any employee in the federal judiciary.
State Court Interpreters Grant Program Act of 2009
- This would have establish a federal grant program for states to use federal funding for more interpreters in state-level courts and/or to establish interpreter programs.
- This bill would have established 63 new judgeships on the federal circuit and district courts.
- This bill would establish 91 new judgeships on the federal circuit and district courts.
See also
External links
Footnotes
