NCJ Number
76537
Date Published
1978
Length
394 pages
Annotation
This report contains the testimony given during House subcommittee hearings on a packet of bills relating to various judicial housekeeping proposals.
Abstract
These bills are similar in three respects: they do not propose drastic changes in the Federal judicial system; they are designed to better treat individuals who participate in the judicial process, whether these participants are jurors, witnesses, judges, marshals, or litigants; and they have all received consistent support and have generated little or no hostility. H.R. 3327 conforms the judicial resignation section to the judicial retirement section and allows Federal judges with 15 years' service to resign at the age of 65. H.R. 8492 provides the Attorney General with discretion to modify fees now set by law for the service of process by the U.S. Marshals Service. H.R. 12394 authorizes payment of transportation expenses by U.S. marshals for persons released pending appearance in another district. H.R. 8220 and H.R. 9122 increase the witness attendance fee from $20 to $30 per day and provide individuals who testify in court with more equitable travel and subsistence allowances. H.R. 11276 provides the courts of appeals and district courts with increased power to transfer cases improperly filed in those courts to the appropriate court in order to cure a defect in jurisdiction or venue. H.R. 12389 contains several improvements to the Federal jury system. The text of the bills, related Senate bills, statistics on jury utilization, and additional materials on the American jury system are provided. Those testifying included representatives from the Department of Justice, the Administrative office of U.S. Courts, the American Bar Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the U.S. Civil Service Commission. Relevant correspondence is also provided.