Criminal Justice System

THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM

I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S

An Introduction for Judges and Judicial Administrators in Other Countries

James C. Duff, Director Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM

I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S

An Introduction for Judges and Judicial Administrators in Other Countries

Article III Judges Division Office of Judges Programs Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building Washington, D.C. 20544 2010

3rd Edition

This publication was developed by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to provide an introduction to the federal judicial system, its organization and administration, its relationship to the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, and its relationship to the state court systems. The Administrative Office is the judicial branch’s central support agency responsible for providing a broad range of management, legal, technical, communications, and other support services for the administration of the federal courts.

P R E FA C E

This booklet is designed to introduce judges and judicial administrators in other countries to the United States federal judicial system, its organization and administration, and its relationship to the legislative and executive branches of the government. It was developed by the Office of Judges Programs of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts at the request of the Judicial Conference Committee on International Judicial Relations. The Judicial Conference of the United States is the national policy-making body of the federal courts. Authorized by statute, it is presided over by the Chief Justice of the United States and composed of 26 additional judges—the chief judge of each of the 13 federal courts of appeals, one district (trial) judge elected from each of the 12 geographic circuits, and the chief judge of the Court of International Trade. The Judicial Conference...