Court Administration

U.S. courts clarify policy limiting ‘judge shopping’

Federal judiciary leaders on Friday released the text of a revised policy directing district courts to assign judges at random in civil cases that have statewide or national implications, making clear that the policy is a recommendation and that they cannot force district courts to follow it.

Mar 18, 2024 9:00 AM CDT

Judge’s plan to decide traffic cases before hearing date ‘was not evil in nature,’ disciplinary court says

A Philadelphia municipal judge who ruled on 95 traffic citations one day before the hearing date violated just one ethics rule requiring diligent and competent performance of duties, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline has ruled.

Mar 13, 2024 9:56 AM CDT

Could automated transcription tools replace human court reporters?

Recent advances in technology, as well as a shortage of court reporters nationwide and the increased use of virtual depositions and hearings, has led to an opening for automated transcription tools.

Mar 13, 2024 8:38 AM CDT

Federal judiciary seeks more money for security amid rise in threats

The federal judiciary is citing “evolving” risks and a “significant increase in threats against federal judges” as some of the reasons for a requested increase in its security budget.

Mar 5, 2024 2:46 PM CST

Only 1 out of 5 defendants in this Mississippi county get court-appointed lawyers before indictment

The right to counsel is “tenuous” in a small Mississippi justice court in Yalobusha County, Mississippi, where two judges appointed lawyers for felony defendants in only 20% of the cases opened in 2022, according to an investigative report.

Feb 27, 2024 8:22 AM CST

Court-appointed lawyers are victims of stolen check schemes, prosecutors say; 6 people charged

Six people have been charged with depositing stolen checks intended to pay court-appointed lawyers representing indigent defendants in federal cases in New York.

Feb 8, 2024 12:28 PM CST

Clerks for Hire: The Supreme Court recruiting race

Last spring, as the Supreme Court wrapped up oral arguments for what was shaping up to be a blockbuster term, the law firm Jones Day invited a group of law clerks to dinner at Del Mar, an upscale restaurant on the D.C. waterfront.

Jan 26, 2024 9:15 AM CST

Ouster recommended for town justice accused of making ‘salacious jokes,’ identifying himself as judge in gas-station dispute

A town justice in New York should be removed from office partly for inappropriate comments to another judge and his court clerks, according to the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Jan 18, 2024 9:38 AM CST

These are the most notable legal terms of 2023, legal writing coach says

“Exploding offer” and “Texas two-step” are among the most notable terms of 2023, according to legal writing consultant Ken Bresler.

Jan 11, 2024 1:28 PM CST

‘Airborne defendant’ leaps over bench, attacks Vegas judge during court hearing recorded on video

A man who pleaded guilty to attempted battery with substantial bodily harm attacked a Las Vegas judge who was sentencing him Wednesday.

Jan 4, 2024 9:55 AM CST

Response to fake-citations query implicates attorney-client privilege, Michael Cohen’s lawyer says

A federal judge who threatened to impose sanctions against former lawyer Michael Cohen’s attorney for apparently citing fake cases has agreed that the lawyer can file his response under seal—at least for now.

Dec 19, 2023 3:05 PM CST

Justice Thomas told lawmaker 1 or more justices might resign over low pay, raising concern about conservative retirements

Justice Clarence Thomas told a Republican lawmaker in 2000 that one or more justices might leave the U.S. Supreme Court if Congress didn’t authorize a pay raise, according to a new report by ProPublica.

Dec 18, 2023 2:55 PM CST

‘Nuclear verdicts’ and ‘litigation tourism’ are partly why these state courts are top ‘judicial hellholes,’ report says

Courts in Georgia and Pennsylvania are named as top "judicial hellholes" for their friendliness to tort plaintiffs in a report by the American Tort Reform Foundation.

Dec 8, 2023 2:13 PM CST

Private criminal defense lawyers failed to show up for their cases more often than defendants, Philly study finds

Some lawyers are less reliable than defendants when it comes to showing up in court, according to a study of criminal cases in Philadelphia courts during a 10-year span.

Dec 6, 2023 4:12 PM CST

Judicial task force will take deep look at legal ed, bar admissions

A new group comprised of nine state supreme court chief justices and three state court administrators will make recommendations to state supreme courts regarding legal education, the bar admissions process and the declining numbers of attorneys dedicated to public-interest law.

Nov 28, 2023 1:00 PM CST