The Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements (SCFJI), the only ABA entity dedicated entirely to the substantive issues affecting the federal judiciary, conceives of, studies, and makes recommendations to the ABA on improvements to the federal judicial system. The Committee serves a vital role in the development of Association positions on legislative and administrative proposals potentially affecting the federal judiciary. The SCFJI also coordinates activities within the ABA relating to improvements in this arena. Finally, the Committee serves as a liaison between the ABA and the federal judiciary, as well as with other governmental and nongovernmental entities involved in judicial reform.
The Committee is composed of federal judges, practicing attorneys, and academics who provide a broad array of experience and viewpoints.
The Standing Committee is housed within the American Bar Association's Justice Center.
Judge Nancy F. Atlas, Chair
Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements
Mission
It is the mission of the Standing Committee on Federal
Judicial Improvements to: (1) coordinate activities within the Association
relating to improvements in the federal judicial system; (2) maintain
effective liaison with other institutions working on judicial reform
and with the federal judiciary and other appropriate government
officials; and (3) study and make recommendations for improving
the federal judicial system.
Committee Members
The Standing Committee consists of nine members
(including one chair) appointed to serve three-year terms by the
President of the American Bar Association. Click here to view a current roster of committee members.
The Standing Committee has recently established an Academic Advisory Board. Click here to view a current roster of its members.
SCFJI Launches new Media Alerts on Federal Courts of Appeals Web site
SCFJI unveiled its new Media Alerts on Federal Courts of Appeals Web site at the First Amendment Center in Washington D.C. on November 18, 2009 . Judge D. Brock Hornby, Chair of the Judicial Conference, attended the launch along with immediate past SCFJI Chair Judge M. Margaret McKeown.
The Web site is designed to provide reporters, lawyers, educators, and the public with prompt, accurate, unbiased information about newsworthy and legally significant cases pending in and decided by the Federal Courts of Appeals. The goal is to assist the media’s efforts to provide timely and extensive reporting about federal court decisions. Anyone can use the web site to find short summaries of recent opinions of public interest and noteworthy cases pending oral argument.
Currently, the Web site covers the Third, Fifth, and Ninth Circuits, and is a pilot program. If successful, SCFJI plans to expand coverage to include the other circuits. From time to time, SCFJI will also include significant district court cases. Cases are selected and summarized by distinguished law professors, supported by their students. The content contributors include Temple University Beasley School of Law in the 3rd Circuit, the University of Texas at Austin School of Law in the 5th Circuit, and both the University of San Diego School of Law and the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in the 9th Circuit. Read more about this groundbreaking project in the ABA Journal, the Blog of Legal Times and visit the Web site itself.
Midyear Meeting
February 3-9, 2010
Orlando, FL
Annual Meeting
August 5-7, 2010
San Francisco, CA
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(L-R) Judge Rico Bartolomei, ABA past President Tommy Wells and Judge M. Margaret McKeown at the U.S. District Court in San Diego |
In 2008, the American Bar Association (ABA) launched an innovative pro bono immigration pilot project in San Diego, California pursuant to a seed grant from the ABA Enterprise Fund. The mission of the IJP is to promote due process and access to justice at all levels of the immigration and appellate court system, through the provision of high-quality pro bono legal services for those in immigration proceedings in San Diego. Partnering in the project are several ABA entities,* the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the federal courts, Georgetown University Law Center’s Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM), the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the private bar. The IJP serves both detained and non-detained individuals, and will recruit, train, and mentor volunteer attorneys and law students representing clients. Through funding from the EOIR, the IJP is implementing a Legal Orientation Program for adult immigration detainees. During the first two years of the project, a study will be conducted by ISIM to evaluate its impact on the immigration court and appellate process.
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SCFJI members, COI members, and ABA staff at a border patrol tour in conjunction with the 2008 SCFJI Fall planning Meeting in San Diego. |
*ABA entity partners are: Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements, Commission on Immigration, Section of Litigation, Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, Judicial Division
To learn more about IJP, please click here.
Read about the latest developments from the Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvments and the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence, in the new Courtly Currents newsletter.
At the 2009 ABA Midyear Meeting in Boston, the Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements voted to advance with a project focusing on judges and aging. The Committee has retained Dr. van Gorp, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of Neuropsychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, to draft a white paper on the effects of aging on the judiciary. Once the paper is drafted, the Committee will work to create a “best practices” guide for the courts.
The Committee sponsored an informational CLE program, Judging Aging, at the 2009 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago on Friday, July 31st. To read more about this extremely popular and standing-room only program, click here.
Entities within the American Bar Association Justice
Center have a number of programs available for judges interested
in participating in outreach programs. These programs offer an opportunity
for judges and attorneys to go out to the community and discuss
the justice system, the role of judges and the importance of judicial
independence. Here are some helpful links:
Judges Outreach Network
National Issues Forum
Judicial
Independence Kit
Dialogue
on Freedom
The Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements Resolution 118 was passed at the House of Delegates meeting at the 2008 ABA Annual Meeting in New York. Click here to read the resolution supporting bipartisan commissions to recommend candidates for nomination to the federal bench.
Resolution 10d
was passed at the House of Delegates meeting at the 2007 ABA Midyear Meeting in Miami. Click here to read the Resolution urging Congress to enact a substantial pay increase for the federal judiciary.
Model Code of Judicial Conduct
2008 Edition
